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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall 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 effective filing date of the claimed invention.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an
application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed
before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1, 2, 4-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Nago (US 9,446,812).
In re claim 1, Nago discloses a cable guiding element (60, 62, 114) for guiding cables (104b) inside a bicycle frame inside a head tube (112) of a bicycle frame, comprising a sleeve element (114) which, in the assembled state, completely surrounds a steer tube (110), and at least one holding element (60, 68) connected with the sleeve element for defining the position of at least one cable (as shown in Figures 1-2 and 11); wherein the sleeve element is arranged together with the at least one holding element inside the head tube in the assembled state (as shown in Figure 1).
In re claim 2, Nago further discloses wherein the cables extend, in the assembled state, substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the steer tube as shown in Figure 1, wherein the cables have an angle of less than 300 to the longitudinal axis of the steer tube as shown in Figure 1.
In re claim 4, Nago further discloses wherein several holding elements (68) are connected with the sleeve element (as shown in Figure 11).
In re claim 5, Nago further discloses wherein the at least one holding element is arranged on an outer side (entire exterior of the bearing 114 can broadly be considered “an outer side”) of the sleeve element (as shown in Figure 11).
In re claim 6, Nago further discloses wherein at least two holding elements (outer two elements 68) are arranged opposite to each other (as shown in Figure 11). The Examiner notes that there are three openings 68 as shown in Figure 11, so the outer two can be considered opposite to each other with respect to the center opening 68.
In re claim 7, Nago further discloses wherein the at least one holding element in the assembled state is arranged approximately in the center of the steer tube (when viewed from the front of the bicycle) with a deviation of less than +20mm (as shown in Figures 1-2).
In re claim 8, Nago further discloses wherein the at least one holding element has a lead-through opening for leading through at least one cable (as shown in Figures 2 and 11).
In re claim 9, Nago further discloses wherein the at least one holding element is connected with an outer side (top side) of the sleeve element (as shown in Figure 11).
In re claim 10, Nago further discloses wherein the at least one holding element has connecting bars (reinforcing ribs 80) for connection with outer side (entire exterior of the bearing 114 can broadly be considered “an outer side”) of the sleeve element (as shown in Figures 11-12).
In re claim 11, Nago further discloses wherein the connecting bars have an outer side transitioning substantially step-free to the outer side of the sleeve element (as shown in Figure 12). The Examiner notes that the ribs 80 have a curved transition towards the ring portion 78 instead of having “steps” as shown in annotated Figure 12 below.
PNG
media_image1.png
401
526
media_image1.png
Greyscale
Examiner-annotated excerpt from Figure 12 of Nago
In re claim 12, Nago discloses a cable guiding system, comprising a head tube (112) of a bicycle frame, a steer tube (110) of a bicycle fork arranged inside the head tube, and a cable guiding element surrounding the steer tube according to claim 1 as discussed above.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to the rejection(s) of claim 1 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of Nago due to the amendment by simply using different reference numbers/components to teach the amended claim language. The Examiner notes that, in light of the amendment to fix the indefiniteness issues, the scope of the claimed invention was narrowed thus requiring the slight change in applied reference numerals.
Conclusion
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 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 event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date 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 action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 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 SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Michael R Stabley whose telephone number is (571)270-3249. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F 9-5:30.
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, Valentin Neacsu can be reached on (571) 272-6265. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see https://ppair-my.uspto.gov/pair/PrivatePair. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/MICHAEL R STABLEY/Examiner, Art Unit 3611 /VALENTIN NEACSU/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3611