www.uspto.gov
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`17/045,282
`
`10/05/2020
`
`Shinya GESHI
`
`094704-0074
`
`1041
`
`Rimon PC - Pansonic Corporation
`8300 Greensboro Dr.
`Suite 500
`McLean, VA 22102
`
`CAUGHRON, KATHARINE ANN
`
`1751
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`03/05/2024
`
`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):
`USPTOmail@rimonlaw.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`17/045,282
`GESH|I etal.
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF)StatusExaminer
`Katharine (Kate) A Caughron
`1751
`Yes
`
`
`
`-- The MAILING DATEof this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORYPERIOD FOR REPLYIS SET TO EXPIRE 3 MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensionsof 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 30 November 2023.
`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) 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)(2) 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*
`1-6,8-10,12-15 and 17-18 is/are pending in the application.
`)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the above claim(s) 2-6 and 12-13 is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`[] Claim(s)__ is/are allowed.
`Claim(s) 1,8-10,14-15 and 17-18 is/are rejected.
`[) Claim(s)__ is/are objectedto.
`C] Claim(s)
`are subjectto restriction and/or election requirement
`* 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:/Awww.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)() The drawing(s) filedon__ is/are: a)C) 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).) Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d)or (f).
`Certified copies:
`—_c)LJ None ofthe:
`b)LJ Some**
`a)D) All
`1.) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.1 Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.2.) 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)
`
`4)
`
`(LJ Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`(Qj Other:
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20240226
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/045,282
`Art Unit: 1751
`
`Page 2
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Notice of Pre-AlA 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-AlA), 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.
`
`Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AlA), second paragraph, as being
`
`indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor
`
`ora joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AlA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the
`
`invention.
`
`4.
`
`Claim 1 as amendedrecites the limitation “an open rim continuing to the other end of the
`
`cylindrical portion via a constricted portion”. It is unclear whether the claim requires that the
`
`constricted portion is part of the open rim or whether the claim requires a constricted portion separate
`
`from the open rim. In other words,it is unclear whether the open rim comprises a constricted portion or
`
`not. Claim 1 is therefore indefinite because the scope of the claim cannot be determined. For
`
`examination purposes,this limitation will be interpreted as requiring a constricted portion separate
`
`from the open rim, so as to be consistent with claim 18 which requires that “ the open rim is wholly
`
`disposed above the constricted portion”.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/045,282
`Art Unit: 1751
`
`Page 3
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`5.
`
`The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not includedin this action can be found in a
`
`prior Office action.
`
`6.
`
`Claims 1, 8-10, 14-15, and 17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`Bae et al. (US 2020/0083494 A1), in view of Iwaizonoetal. (US 6524739 B1).
`
`7.
`
`Regarding claim 1, Bae teaches a battery (“Secondary Battery”, Title) comprising:
`
`a battery can 120 including a cylindrical portion 121, a bottom wall 122 closing one end of the
`
`cylindrical portion, and an open rim continuing to the other end of the cylindrical portion via a
`
`constricted portion 123 ([0030], figs. 1-3; crimping part 124 may be considered an open rim sinceitis
`
`the upper edgeof the case 120 opposite the bottom plate 122 and is open to receive the electrode
`
`assemblyprior to sealing; the beading part 123 corresponds to the constricted portion);
`
`an electrode body 110 housed in the cylindrical portion 121 ([0030], fig. 3);
`
`and a sealing body fixed to the open rim 124 so as to seal an opening defined by the open rim,
`
`the sealing body including a sealing plate 130, and a gasket 140 disposed at a peripheral portion of the
`
`sealing plate 130 ([0030], fig. 3; cap 130 and gasket 140 arecollectively a sealing body, since they act
`
`together to seal the battery, and this sealing body is located at the opening defined by the rim 124 with
`
`the gasket around the edge of the sealing plate 130; cap 130 is plate-shaped, being composed ofseveral
`
`plates joined into one larger sealing plate),
`
`wherein the sealing body has a first principal surface facing an interior of the battery can, a
`
`second principal surface opposite to the first principal surface, and a side surface connecting the first
`
`principal surface with the second principal surface (fig. 3 showsa first/bottom surface of the sealing
`
`body, plate 130 and gasket 140, that faces the inside of the case 120, a second/top surface opposite the
`
`first surface that faces up away from the inside of the case, and a side edge facing outward in a
`
`horizontal direction with respect to the figure; the side edge connects the first/bottom surface and the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/045,282
`Art Unit: 1751
`
`Page 4
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`second/top surface of the sealing body, plate 130 and gasket 140; the second/top surfaceis also visible
`
`in figs. 1-2),
`
`and the battery further comprising a cap 150 with electrical conductivity covering at least part of
`
`the open rim and directly electrically connected to the uppermost portion of the open rim, the cap being
`
`electrically insulated from the sealing plate ([0039], figs. 1-4; fig. 3 in particular showsthat the cap 150
`
`contacts the crimping rim 124 and would therefore be electrically connected to it; [0047], in other
`
`words insulation 160 electrically insulates part 151, and the rest of the cap 150, from part 131, and the
`
`rest of sealing plate 130; the cap may be considered to have a direct electrical connection with the
`
`uppermost portion of the open rim, since the cap has electrical connection with the uppermost portion
`
`of the rim through the side portion of the rim and sois not electrically insulated from the upper most
`
`portion of the rim).
`
`Bae does not teach that the cap is directly in contact with an uppermost portion of the open
`
`rim.
`
`Iwaizono teachesa battery (Abstract; fig. 6), comprising:
`
`a battery can 15 including a cylindrical portion, a bottom wall closing one end of the cylindrical
`
`portion, and an open rim continuing to the other end of the cylindrical portion; an electrode body
`
`housedin the cylindrical portion; and a sealing body 8 fixed to the open rim so as to seal an opening
`
`defined by the open rim,
`
`(col. 10, line 67 to col. 11, line 2; fig. 6 shows a cutaway view of the can 15
`
`including the open rim on the side opposite the bottom; the electricity generating elements correspond
`
`to the electrode body; col. 11, lines 2-5);
`
`the sealing body 8 including a sealing plate 17, and a gasket 13 disposed at a peripheral portion
`
`of the sealing plate, wherein the sealing body has a first principal surface facing an interior of the
`
`battery can, a second principal surface opposite to the first principal surface, and a side surface
`
`connecting the first principal surface with the second principal surface (col 11, lines 2-7; fig. 6 shows that
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/045,282
`Art Unit: 1751
`
`Page 5
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`the sealing body 8 has a first principal surface facing the interior of the can 15, a second principal
`
`surface facing the exterior of the can, and a side surface along the side of the can 15)), and
`
`the battery further comprising a cap 20 with electrical conductivity covering at least part of the
`
`open rim and directly in contact with an uppermost portion of the open rim, the cap 20 being electrically
`
`insulated from the sealing plate 17 (col. 14, lines 46-47; fig. 6 shows that the cap 20 directly contacts the
`
`uppermost portion of the open rim; the gasket 13 is understood to be an insulating element which
`
`insulates the cap from the sealing plate 17).
`
`It would be obvious to a person havingordinaryskill in the art before the effective filing date of
`
`the claimed invention to modify the battery of Bae such that the cap is directly in contact with an
`
`uppermost portion of the open rim as taught by Iwaizono, since the direct contact with the uppermost
`
`portion of the rim is a predictably functional arrangement. The combination of familiar elementsis likely
`
`to be obvious when it does no morethan yield predictable results. See KSR International Co. v. Teleflex
`
`Inc., 82 USPQ2d 1385, 1395 — 97 (2007) (see MPEP § 2143, A.).
`
`Bae further teaches that the cap is fixed to the open rim of the battery can ([0039] of Bae; the
`
`conductive cover 150 is coupled to crimping part 124 which is the uppermostsection of case 120).
`
`However, Bae does not teach that the fixing is achieved by welding.
`
`Iwaizono teachesthat the battery cap 20 may be fixed to the battery can 15 by welding prongs
`
`20e, which are a portion of the battery cap 20, to the can 15 (col. 15, lines 25-30).
`
`It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the
`
`effective filing date of the claimed invention to have used the welding of lwaizonofor fixing the cap to
`
`the open rim in the battery of Bae. Welding as taught by lwaizono would predictably have secured the
`
`cap to the open rim in an electrically conductive manner. The simple substitution of one known element
`
`for anotheris likely to be obvious when predictable results are achieved. See KSR InternationalCo.v.
`
`Teleflex Inc., 82 USPQ2d 1385, 1395 — 97 (2007) (see MPEP § 2143, B.).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/045,282
`Art Unit: 1751
`
`Page 6
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`8.
`
`Regarding claim 8, modified Bae disclosesall of the limitations as set forth above. Bae further
`
`teaches that the cap has a first portion 152 covering at least part of the side surface of the sealing body,
`
`with the open rim of the battery can between the first portion and the side surface ([0042] of Bae; fig. 3
`
`of Bae shows howportion 152 covers the side edge of the sealing body, plate 130 and gasket 140, with
`
`the crimping rim 124 in between).
`
`9.
`
`Regarding claim 9, modified Bae disclosesall of the limitations as set forth above. Bae further
`
`teaches that the cap has a second portion 151 covering at least part of an outer periphery of the second
`
`principal surface of the sealing body ([0041] of Bae, where flat part 151 covers the outer edge of the
`
`second/top surface of sealing body, plate 130 and gasket 140; also fig. 3 of Bae).
`
`10.
`
`Regarding claim 10, modified Bae disclosesall of the limitations as set forth above. Bae further
`
`teaches that:
`
`the first portion 152 of the cap has an annular shape(figs. 1, 2 and 4 of Bae show thatthe first
`
`portion 152 is annular, or ring-shaped, and encircles the battery case 120),
`
`in a no-load state, the first portion 152 of the cap has a minimum inner diameter smaller than a
`
`maximum outer diameter of a portion of the open rim of the battery can, the portion to be covered with
`
`the cap (figs. 3 and 4 of Bae show portions 153 protruding inward from part 152, such that the distance
`
`between an innermost part 153a of part 153 and the part 153a directly across from the first part 153a
`
`may be considered the minimum, or smallest, inner diameter of portion 152; similarly, fig. 3 of Bae
`
`showsthat crimping rim portion 124 protrudes farther outward with respect to the interior of the
`
`battery than the inner edge of parts 153a,i.e. rim 124 has a maximum diameter greater than the
`
`minimum diameter of portion152; the rim portion 124 is covered by the main section of portion 152 as
`
`seen in figs. 1-3 of Bae).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/045,282
`Art Unit: 1751
`
`Page 7
`
`11.
`
`Regarding claim 14, modified Bae disclosesall of the limitations as set forth above. Bae further
`
`teaches that the gasket is interposed between the cap and the sealing plate (fig. 3 of Bae showsthat the
`
`gasket 140 is positioned between the cap 150 and the sealing plate 130).
`
`Bae is silent as to the gasket being an electrically insulating member.
`
`It would have been obvious to a person having ordinaryskill in the art at the time of the
`
`effective filing date of the claimed invention to select an electrically insulating member for the gasket of
`
`Bae, in order to prevent an undesirable short circuit between the positive terminal formed by the
`
`sealing plate and the negative terminal formed by the cap. A person of ordinary skill in the art would
`
`reasonably expect the selection of an electrically insulating material as the gasket member to prevent a
`
`short circuit between the positive terminal and the negative terminal. The selection of a known
`
`material, which is based upon its suitability for the intended use, is within the ambit of one of ordinary
`
`skill in the art (see MPEP § 2144.07).
`
`Bae doesnot teach that the gasket is disposed so as to extend more inward than the cap ina
`
`radial direction.
`
`Bae teachesthat insulating element 160 is disposed so as to extend more inward than the cap
`
`150 in the radial direction (figs. 3 and 5 of Bae show that the insulating element 160 extends more
`
`inward toward the center of the battery, which may be considered the radial direction, than the cap
`
`150). It would have been obvious to a person having ordinaryskill in the art at the time of the effective
`
`filing date of the claimed invention to modify the gasket 140 to extend more inward than the cap 150 in
`
`the radial direction, since the gasket 140 would better prevent a short-circuit between the cap 150 and
`
`the sealing plate 130 ([0047] of Bae, such that extending gasket 140 to provide better insulation
`
`between sealing plate 130 and cap 150 would help to prevent shortcircuits).
`
`12.
`
`Regarding claim 15, modified Bae disclosesall of the limitations as set forth above. Bae further
`
`teaches that:
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/045,282
`Art Unit: 1751
`
`Page 8
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`the gasket 140 having an inner ring portion disposed on the peripheral portion on a side facing
`
`the electrode body, an outer ring portion disposed on the peripheral portion on a side opposite to the
`
`side facing the electrode body, and a side wall portion covering an end surface of the peripheral portion
`
`(fig. 3 of Bae shows a side cutawayof the gasket, with the inner ring portion on the bottom edge of the
`
`sealing plate 130 with respect to the figure, the outer ring portion on the top edgeof the sealing plate
`
`130, and theside wall portion covering the outer side edge of the sealing plate 130),
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`the sealing plate and the gasket being integrally molded to be in close contact with each other
`
`(fig. 3 of Bae showsthat the sealing plate 130 and the gasket 140 are touching such that the gasket
`
`appears to be molded around the sealing plate).
`
`13.
`
`Regarding claim 17, modified Bae disclosesall of the limitations as set forth above. Bae further
`
`teaches that in a height direction of the battery can 120, a lower end of the cap 130 (the lower end
`
`correspondingto the vertical/side portion 152 of the battery cap, the upper end being the
`
`horizontal/top portion 151 of the battery cap) is positioned on the open rim side (crimping part 124)
`
`relative to an upper end of the constricted portion (beading part 123; see fig. 3 of Bae).
`
`14.
`
`Claim 18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Bae etal. (US
`
`2020/0083494 A1), in view of Iwaizonoet al. (US 6524739 B1), and further in view of Marukawaetal.
`
`(US 6120564 A).
`
`15.
`
`Regarding claim 18, modified Bae disclosesall of the limitations as set forth above. Bae teaches
`
`that the cap 150 contacts the open rim 124 of the battery can 120, and the cap 150 includes coupling
`
`portions 153 that extend below the constricted portion 123 to secure the cap 150 to the can 120 (see
`
`fig. 3).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/045,282
`Art Unit: 1751
`
`Page 9
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`Marukawa teachesa cap-like connector 1 for cylindrical battery cells 100A, 100B (col. 3, lines 61-
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`67; fig. 1). As shownin fig. 1 of Marukawa, the connector forms a cap thatsits against the bottom of the
`
`cell 100B such that the cap does not extend past a constricted portion.
`
`It would be obvious to a person havingordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of
`
`the claimed invention to have formed the cap of Bae to contact the open rim via welding and to not
`
`extend past the constricted portion, such that the cap is wholly disposed above the constricted portion,
`
`as taught by Marukawa, since this is an adequate methodoffixing a cap or cap-like element to a battery
`
`cell. Such a person would have reasonably expected this configuration to adequately secure the cap to
`
`the battery. The combination of familiar elementsis likely to be obvious when it does no more than
`
`yield predictable results (see MPEP § 2143, A). With this modification, the cap of Bae will only contact
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`the open rim of the battery can, the open rim being wholly disposed above the constricted portion ina
`
`height direction of the battery can.
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`16.
`
`Applicant's argumentsfiled 11/30/2023 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
`
`On p. 3-4, in the section “The Rejection Of The Claims Under 35 U.S.C. § 103”, Applicant argues
`
`that Bae and Iwaizono both alone and in combination fail to teach all of the limitations of amended
`
`claim 1, since Bae and Iwaizono teach that the cap directly contacts the battery can below the
`
`constricted portion.
`
`The Examiner respectfully disagrees and submits that Bae and lwaizono also teach that the cap
`
`directly contacts the open rim abovethe constricted portion. As shownin fig. 3 of Bae, the cap 150
`
`includes portions 151 and 152 that contact the open rim 124 (see also [0030] of Bae). As shownin fig. 6
`
`of Ilwaizono, the cap 20 includes portions that physically (and therefore electrically) contact the side and
`
`top of the open rim portion (col. 14, lines 41-47). The Examiner notes that claim 1 does not require that
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/045,282
`Art Unit: 1751
`
`Page 10
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`the cap does not contact the can below the constricted portion. Further, a cap may contact a can both
`
`above and below a constricted portion,as in the art of Bae and lwaizono. For the cap, being located
`
`above the constricted portion and being located below the constricted portion are not mutually
`
`exclusive configurations.
`
`On p. 4, Applicant argues that Bae as modified by lwaizono teaches welding the cap at a position
`
`below the constricted portion, and thus neither Bae nor Iwaizono,either alone or in combination, teach
`
`the feature of welding the cap to the open rim at a position above the constricted portion.
`
`The Examiner respectfully submits that this argument is not commensuratein scope with claim
`
`1, since claim 1 does not require that the cap is welded to the open rim at a position above the
`
`constricted portion. Claim 1 recites the limitation “the cap is welded to the open rim of the battery can”
`
`(with no further limitations regarding the location of the welding) and in an earlier limitation, the “open
`
`rim continuing to the other end of the cylindrical portion via a constricted portion”. Thus, the open rim
`
`is contiguous with the constricted portion and the cylindrical portion (i.e. main body) of the can. Bae as
`
`modified by lwaizono such that the cap is welded below the constricted portion thus welds the cap to
`
`the open rim via the constricted portion, and thus renders obvious all of the limitations of claim 1, in
`
`particular that the cap is welded to the open rim of the battery can.
`
`Independent claim 1 and its dependents 8-10 and 14-15 stand rejected over Bae in view of
`
`Iwaizono. New claim 17 is rejected over Bae in view of lwaizono. New claim 18 is rejected over Bae in
`
`view of lwaizono and further in view of Marukawa.
`
`Conclusion
`
`17.
`
`The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's
`
`disclosure. Kim et al. (US 2004/0121229 A1) teaches a battery having a ring 220, which forms a cap that
`
`doesnot extend below a constricted portion ([0041], figs. 2 and 4).
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 17/045,282
`Art Unit: 1751
`
`Page 11
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`18.
`
`Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office
`
`action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the
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`extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
`
`A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from
`
`the mailing date of this action.
`
`In the eventa first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS ofthe mailing date
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`of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH
`
`shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory
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`action is mailed, and any extension fee pursuantto 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing
`
`date of the advisory action.
`
`In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than
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`SIX MONTHS from the dateof this final action.
`
`19.
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner
`
`should be directed to Katharine (Kate) A. Caughron whose telephone numberis (571)270-5733. The
`
`examiner can normally be reached Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM ET.
`
`Examiner interviewsare available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a
`
`USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use
`
`the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
`
`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor,
`
`Jonathan Leong can be reached on (571)270-1292. The fax phone number for the organization where
`
`this application or proceedingis assigned is 571-273-8300.
`
`Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from
`
`Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To
`
`file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit
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`https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and
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`https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information aboutfiling in DOCX format. For additional
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/045,282
`Art Unit: 1751
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`Page 12
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`questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like
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`assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA)or
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`571-272-1000.
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`/K.A.C./
`Examiner, Art Unit 1751
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`/JONATHAN G LEONG/
`Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1751
`2/28/2024
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