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
`
`16/982,279
`
`09/18/2020
`
`Yasufumi Takahashi
`
`P200884US00
`
`6806
`
`WHDA, LLP
`8500 LEESBURG PIKE
`SUITE 7500
`TYSONS, VA 22182
`
`FREEMAN, EMILY ELIZABETH
`
`1724
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`04/20/2022
`
`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)
`
`

`

`
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`1-7 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`5a) Of the above claim(s) ___ is/are withdrawn from consideration.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) 1-7 is/are rejected.
`S)
`) © Claim(s)____is/are objected to.
`C] 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:/Awww.uspto.gov/patents/init_events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPHfeedback@uspto.gov.
`
`) )
`
`Application Papers
`10)(2 The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)M The drawing(s) filed on 9/18/2020 is/are: a)f¥) 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)[M) 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) 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.
`3.1.) 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)
`
`Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`2)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date 11/25/2020.
`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 20220414
`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`16/982 279
`Takahashi etal.
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF) StatusExaminer
`EMILY E FREEMAN
`1724
`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)C) Responsive to communication(s) filed on
`C) A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`
`2a)C) This action is FINAL. 2b)¥)This action is non-final.
`3)0) 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\() 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.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/982,279
`Art Unit: 1724
`
`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 underthe
`
`first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
`
`2.
`
`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-AlA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103)is incorrect, any correction of the
`
`statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground ofrejection if the prior art
`
`relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same undereitherstatus.
`
`3.
`
`The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the
`
`basis for the rejections underthis section madein this Office action:
`
`A personshall 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 effectivefiling date of the claimed
`invention.
`
`4.
`
`Claims 1-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Moriyama et
`
`al. (US 5968682).
`
`e Regarding Claim 1, Moriyama discloses an alkaline dry battery (1) comprising: a battery
`
`case (container, 10), a hollow cylindrical positive electrode (11) accommodatedin the
`
`battery case (container, 10), and a negative electrode (12) disposedin the hollow portion
`
`of the positive electrode (11) (Figure 1, p.3, Col. 1, lines 13-16 and p.4, Col. 3, lines 51-
`
`62). Moriyama further discloses a separator (16) disposed betweenthe positive
`
`electrode (11) and the negative electrode (12), and an electrolytic solution contained in
`
`the positive electrode (11), the negative electrode (12), and the separator (16) (Figure 1,
`
`p.4, Col. 3, lines 51-62 and p.7, Col. 10, lines 23-42). Moriyama further discloses that the
`
`alkaline dry battery (1) further comprises a layer (coating film) principally including a
`
`compoundcontaining a polyoxyethylene (polyethylene glycol) group between the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/982,279
`Art Unit: 1724
`
`Page 3
`
`positive electrode (11) and an inner surface of the battery case (container, 10) (p.4,
`
`Col.3, lines 27-48 and p.4, Col. 4, lines 20-27).
`
`e Regarding Claim 2, Moriyama further discloses that the layer (coating film) was coated
`
`onto the surface of a metal sheet, which then was used asthe battery case (battery
`
`container, 10) (p.4, Col.3, line 66- p.4, Col.4, line 14 and p.6, Col. 7, lines 11-16). Thus,
`
`50% or more of a region of the inner surface of the battery case (container, 10), that is in
`
`contact with the positive electrode (11) is covered with the layer (coating film).
`
`e Regarding Claim 3, Moriyama further discloses that the layer (coating film) includes a
`
`polyethylene glycol as a plasticizer (p.4, Col.3, lines 27-48 and p.4, Col. 4, lines 20-27).
`
`e Regarding Claim 4, Moriyama further discloses that the layer (coating film) may be
`
`comprised of 100 parts by weight of resin (polyvinyl butyral, p= 1.11 g/mL), 100 parts by
`
`weight of plasticizer (polyethylene glycol, p= 1.13 g/mL), 5 parts by weight of cross-
`
`linking agent (epoxy resin, p= 1.10 g/mL), and 20 parts by weight of conductive powder
`
`(carbon black, p= 1.70 g/mL)(p.4, Col.3, lines 27-48 and p.4, Col.4, lines 15-65).
`
`Moriyama further discloses that the thickness of the layer (coating film) may be between
`
`0.5-15 um (p.4, Col.3, lines 32-34). Using a basis where 100 parts by weight is equalto
`
`100 grams, and the individual densities of the resin, plasticizer, cross-linking agent, and
`
`conductive powder, a composite density of the layer (coating film) can be found to be
`
`1.15 g/mL. Using the thickness of the layer (coating film) and the composite density, the
`
`loading of the compound within the layer (coating film) may be calculated. For example,
`
`when the layer (coating film) has a thickness of 15 um, the loading of the compound
`
`within the layer (coating film) is calculated to be 1.7 mg/cm’.
`
`e Regarding Claim 5, Moriyama further discloses that the layer (coating film) further
`
`includes a particulate conductive material (conductive powder) (p.4, Col.3, lines 27-48
`
`and p.4, Col.4, lines 59-65).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/982,279
`Art Unit: 1724
`
`Page 4
`
`e Regarding Claim 6, Moriyama further discloses that the layer (coating film) further
`
`includes a binder (resin) in an amountof 100 parts by mass(p.4, Col.3, lines 27-48).
`
`e Regarding Claim 7, Moriyama further discloses a recessis disposed on a bottom
`
`surface of the positive electrode (11) opposed to the bottom of the battery case
`
`(container, 10) (see annotated Figure 1 below).
`
`FIG 4
`
`Material (143
`
`Positive
`Electrode
`
`Recess
`
`Annotated Figure 1 (Moriyamaet al. US 5968682)
`
`Conclusion
`
`5.
`
`Anyinquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner
`
`should be directed to EMILY E FREEMANwhosetelephone number is (571)272-1498. The
`
`examiner can normally be reached Monday- Friday 8:30AM-5:00PM.
`
`Examinerinterviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing
`
`using a USPTO supplied web-basedcollaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is
`
`encouraged to use the USPTO AutomatedInterview Request (AIR)at
`
`http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/982,279
`Art Unit: 1724
`
`Page 5
`
`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
`
`supervisor, Miriam Stagg can be reached on (571)-270-5256. The fax phone numberfor the
`
`organization where this application or proceeding is 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 Centeris available
`
`to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center,visit:
`
`https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit httos://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more
`
`information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about
`
`filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC)at
`
`866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service
`
`Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA)or 571-272-1000.
`
`/E.E.F./
`Examiner, Art Unit 1724
`
`/SARAHA. SLIFKA/
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1759
`
`