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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 06/22/2026 has been entered. Claims 1-20 are pending with claims 14-20 withdrawn in response to restriction.
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, 3, 5-6, 8-10 and 12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Park (KR 2017/0130647 A) in view of Douno (JP 2005304960 A), Rey (US 2005/0150223 A1) and Glaeser (DE 19963499 A1).
Regarding claim 1, Park discloses a soft actuator comprising: a first spring bundle (#100 fig 5-7, par 0034 discloses element 110 as springs thus 100 is a spring bundle), and configured to be capable of being changed between a contraction state and a relaxation state according to a change of temperature (par 0034), wherein several numbers to hundred numbers of wires are formed as a single bundle which is the first spring bundle (#110 fig 5-7, par 0034 discloses 110 is realized by spring shaped wires, disclosing wires plural thus discloses several numbers, par 0035 further discloses the drive unit consisting of a pair of first shape memory alloy springs, and that the number of springs 110 may be one or more thus disclosing several numbers).
Park discloses supplying electricity to the spring bundle/fine wires from both a first end and a second end (par 0013-0016) but is silent to the use of a first conductive pad having a first connector electrically connected to a first end of the first spring bundle; and a second conductive pad having a second connector electrically connected to a second end of the first spring bundle, wherein the first connector is fixed between the first conductive pad and the first spring bundle, and the second connector is fixed between the second conductive pad and the first spring bundle.
Douno teaches a device with a first spring bundle (#4 fig 1) having a plurality of fine wires, and configured to be capable of being changed between a contraction state and a relaxation state according to a change of temperature (par 0022); a first conductive pad (#2a fig 1, par 0024 “electrode portion”) having a first connector (#21 fig 1) electrically connected to a first end of the first spring bundle (par 0024, fig 1); and a second conductive pad (#3a fig 1) having a second connector (#31 fig 1) electrically connected to a second end of the first spring bundle (par 0024, fig 1), wherein the first connector is fixed between the first conductive pad and the first spring bundle, and the second connector is fixed between the second conductive pad and the first spring bundle (par 0024 and Fig. 1 electrodes #21 a located between #2a and the springs #4, while electrodes #31 are located between #3a and springs #4).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to utilize electrode pads and connectors as taught by Douno for the electric connections of Park as doing so allows for secure electrical connections of the springs while allowing for each spring to be individually disconnected and replaced when needed.
Modified Park does not expressly disclose the spring bundles being of fine wires collected to form a spring bundle, Park only expressly discloses that spring bundle/elements 110/100 are realized by a plurality of spring shaped wires (par 0034).
Rey discloses the use of shape memory material used for actuation wherein the shape memory material includes individual SMA wires collected to form a SMA bundle (par 0015-0016).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to utilize multiple wires collected to form a bundle as taught by Rey for the bundles of modified Park as wires formed into a bundle greatly increase the total force output compared to the force output of the individual wires (Rey: par 0015-0016).
Modified Park remains silent to the wires utilized being fine wires.
Glaeser teaches the use of fine wires for use in an SMA wire bundle (pg 4 paragraph starting with “when the heating device 10 is switched on” disclosing “the FGE 4 is designed as a wire or wire bundle with linear wire elements” and “small wire diameters” thus disclosing fine wires).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize fine wires as taught by Glaeser for the several to hundreds of numbers of wires forming the spring bundle of Park as doing so allows for considerable actuating force to still be achieved while having a compact form (Glaeser: pg 4 paragraph starting with “when the heating device 10 is switched on” disclosing “an advantage of the FGE 4 is that even with small wire diameters, considerable actuating forces can be applied to the valve body, so that the valve arrangement 1 is designed in a very compact form).
Regarding claim 3, modified Park discloses the actuator of claim 1. Park further discloses each of the fine wires is a shape memory alloy which is driven according to the change of temperature (par 0034).
Regarding claim 5, modified Park discloses the actuator of claim 1. Park further discloses an outer cover (#121 fig 5-7) having a flexible material (see fig 5-7), and having the first spring bundle inside of the outer cover, wherein the first and second conductive pads are fixed to the outer cover (as park has end “stoppers” 123 and 125 fixed to the cover it is seen that with modifications of Douno the conductive pads would be fixed to the outer cover too).
Regarding claim 6, modified Park discloses the actuator of claim 5. Park further discloses an additional component integrally fixed to the first and second connectors (#400 and 500 fig 5-7), and having a material less flexible than the outer cover (see fig 5-7 showing structured joint/skeleton components 400 and 500).
Park is silent to the additional component being fabric. However, Douno teaches the use of fabric (#6 fig 1) for attaching the device to the users body.
It would have been obvious to use a fabric as taught by Douno for the skeletal components of modified Park as doing so can provide added comfort to the user compared to stiffer materials such as metal, while still maintaining proper connection for the joints and “artificial muscles” of Park.
Regarding claim 8, modified Park discloses the actuator of claim 6. Park is silent to the additional fabric comprises an opening portion for an eyelet.
Douno teaches the use of male and female member fasteners (8a, 8b fig 1, par 0027).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize an eyelet/opening and a button for the fastener of Douno/modified Park as a known and inexpensive method for fastening fabrics.
Regarding claim 9, modified Park discloses the actuator of claim 1. Park further discloses the temperature changes according to a current supplied from outside the soft actuator (par 0013).
Regarding claim 10, Park discloses a soft actuator comprising: spring bundles having a first spring bundle (#100 fig 5-7, par 0034 discloses element 110 as springs thus 100 is a spring bundle) and a second spring bundle (#200 fig 5-7), and configured to be capable of being changed between a contraction state and a relaxation state according to a change of temperature (par 0034), wherein each of the first and second spring bundles is a spring bundle and several numbers to hundred numbers of wires are formed as a single bundle which is the first spring bundle (#110 fig 5-7, par 0034 discloses 110 is realized by spring shaped wires, disclosing wires plural thus discloses several numbers, par 0035 further discloses the drive unit consisting of a pair of first shape memory alloy springs, and that the number of springs 110 may be one or more thus disclosing several numbers).
Park is silent to electrodes electrically connected to the first and second spring bundles, and having a first conductive pad, a middle conductive pad and a second conductive pad, wherein the first conductive pad has a first connector electrically connected to a first end of the first spring bundle, wherein the second conductive pad has a second connector electrically connected to a second end of the second spring bundle, wherein the middle conductive pad has a middle connector electrically connecting the first and second spring bundles with each other.
Douno teaches a device with a first and second spring bundles (#4 fig 1, 10) having a plurality of wires, and configured to be capable of being changed between a contraction state and a relaxation state according to a change of temperature (par 0022); a first conductive pad (#2a fig 1, 10, par 0024 “electrode portion”), a middle conductive pad (#30 fig 10, par 0042) and a second conductive pad (2b fig 1, 10) wherein the first conductive pad has a first connector (#21 fig 1) electrically connected to a first end of the first spring bundle (par 0024, fig 1); wherein the second conductive pad has a second connector (#21 fig 1) electrically connected to a second end of the second spring bundle (par 0024, fig 1), wherein the middle conductive pad has a middle connector electrically connecting the first and second spring bundles with each other (#31 fig 1).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to utilize electrode pads and connectors as taught by Douno for the electric connections of Park as doing so allows for secure electrical connections of the springs while allowing for each spring to be individually disconnected and replaced when needed. Further connecting the spring bundles in series allows for the use of only 1 power source connection rather than multiple.
Modified Park does not expressly disclose the spring bundles being of fine wires collected to form a spring bundle, Park only expressly discloses that spring bundle/elements 110/100 are realized by a plurality of spring shaped wires (par 0034).
Rey discloses the use of shape memory material used for actuation wherein the shape memory material includes individual SMA wires collected to form a SMA bundle (par 0015-0016).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to utilize multiple wires collected to form a bundle as taught by Rey for the bundles of modified Park as wires formed into a bundle greatly increase the total force output compared to the force output of the individual wires (Rey: par 0015-0016).
Modified Park remains silent to the wires utilized being fine wires.
Glaeser teaches the use of fine wires for use in an SMA wire bundle (pg 4 paragraph starting with “when the heating device 10 is switched on” disclosing “the FGE 4 is designed as a wire or wire bundle with linear wire elements” and “small wire diameters” thus disclosing fine wires).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize fine wires as taught by Glaeser for the several to hundreds of numbers of wires forming the spring bundle of Park as doing so allows for considerable actuating force to still be achieved while having a compact form (Glaeser: pg 4 paragraph starting with “when the heating device 10 is switched on” disclosing “an advantage of the FGE 4 is that even with small wire diameters, considerable actuating forces can be applied to the valve body, so that the valve arrangement 1 is designed in a very compact form).
Regarding claim 12, modified Park discloses the actuator of claim 10. Park further discloses an external current receiver formed from the first conductive pad, and configured to receive a current from outside of the soft actuator to form an electric path between the spring bundles and the electrodes (par 0013).
Claim 2 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over modified Park as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Docherty (WO 2006024938 A2).
Regarding claim 2, modified Park discloses the actuator of claim 1. Park is silent to the first connector is fixed between the first conductive pad and the first spring bundle via sewing, and the second connector is fixed between the second conductive pad and the first spring bundle.
Docherty teaches the use of conductive pads/tape with resistive wire and fixing them together via sewing (par 00028).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to connect the conductive pads and connectors of modified Park via sewing as doing so can ensure electrical connection between the components (Docherty par 00028).
Claims 4 and 7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over modified Park as applied to claims 1 and 6 above, and further in view of Tachi (US 2010/0151426 A1).
Regarding claim 4, modified Park discloses the actuator of claim 1. Park is silent to each of the first and second conductive pads has a foldable conductive material.
Tachi teaches a flexible conductive substrate capable of being folded (par 0017).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use a foldable conductive material as taught by Tachi for the conductive pads of Park as doing so prevents breakage of the conductive pad and allows for the conductive pad to be folded around the connector to ensure electrical connection on two sides.
Regarding claim 7, modified Park discloses the actuator of claim 6. Modified Park is silent to each of the first and second connectors is folded at least one time, and the additional fabric is inserted into and fixed to a folded portion of each of the first and second connectors.
Tachi teaches a flexible conductive substrate capable of being folded (par 0017).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use a foldable conductive material as taught by Tachi for the connectors of modified Park as doing so allows for the additional fabric to be sandwiched between the folded sides of the connector allowing for more secure engagement thus preventing disconnect.
Claim 11 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over modified Park as applied to claim 10 above, and further in view of Park98 (KR 101784298 B1).
Regarding claim 11, modified Park is silent to wherein the spring bundles further comprises at least one middle spring bundle disposed between the first spring bundle and the second spring bundle, wherein the middle spring bundle comprises a plurality of the middle connectors.
Park98 teaches a similar shape memory alloy spring actuation device (abstract) with a spring bundle with first springs, second springs and middle spring bundle disposed between the first spring bundle and the second spring bundle, wherein the middle spring bundle comprises a plurality of the middle connectors (see annotated Park98 fig 1 below).
PNG
media_image1.png
519
396
media_image1.png
Greyscale
Annotated Park 98 fig 1
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate middle spring bundles as taught by Park98 onto the actuator of modified Park as doing so allows for further control of expansion and contraction of the springs and thus further control of the actuation for the user.
Claim 13 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over modified Park as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Park82 (KR 20180099982 A).
Regarding claim 13 modified Park discloses the soft actuator of claim 1. Park further discloses wherein the soft actuator is disposed at a flexor or an extensor (see fig 5-7 showing a flexion/extension joint).
Modified Park is silent to a sensor configured to sense a motion of a user; and a controller configured to control the contraction state or the relaxation state of the soft actuator, based on a signal of the sensor.
Park82 teaches an actuation device with a sensor configured to sense a motion of a user; and a controller configured to control the contraction state or the relaxation state of the soft actuator, based on a signal of the sensor (pg 6 par 4-7 discussing intention recognition sensors).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to utilize intention recognition sensors as taught by Park82 with the soft actuator of modified Park as doing so allows for the actuation of the shape memory springs to be responsive to the intended motion of the user thus aiding the user in their intended motions.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1 and 10 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
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Holschuh US 2017/0304136 A1 discloses plurality of wires/springs for spring bundles (see fig 11)
Weidner US 2019/0282426 A1 discloses a muscle strength support utilizing shape memory springs
Jang US 20210045954 A1 discloses a shape memory spring actuator for the spine
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KIRA B DAHER whose telephone number is (571)270-0190. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8am-5pm.
Examiner interviews are 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, Brandy Lee can be reached at (571) 270-7410. The fax phone number for 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 Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://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.
/KIRA B DAHER/Examiner, Art Unit 3785
/BRADLEY H PHILIPS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3799
Prosecution Insights