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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 01/23/2024. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Election/Restrictions
Applicant's election with traverse of claims 1-20 in the reply filed on 01/05/2026 is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) that the restriction between alleged Species A, B and Cis improper and respectfully requests withdrawal of the restriction and rejoinder of all species and claims associated therewith. This is found persuasive and previously withdrawn from consideration as a result of a restriction requirement, claims 8, 13 and 17 hereby rejoined and fully examined.
The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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.
Claims 16-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kim (KR 20140013624 A).
Regarding claim 16, Kim discloses a locking assembly (fig. 3) for a linear clutch, the locking assembly (note the right side locking arrangement as shown in fig. 3) comprising:
a first wedge (15 and 17a) comprising:
a first surface; and
a second surface (17b) opposite the first surface, the second surface comprising a taper extending into the first wedge from the second surface toward the first surface;
a first spring (23) configured to bias the first wedge;
a first bearing assembly (19) configured to fit within the taper of the first wedge and comprising a first roller bearing (19); and
a lever (27) configured to engage the wedge and to move between an unlocked position and a locked position.
Re-claim 17, Kim discloses (note the left side locking arrangement as shown in fig. 3) a second spring;
a second wedge (note the left side wedge members as shown in fig. 3) configured to engage the second spring and the lever, the second wedge comprising:
a first surface; and
a second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface comprising a taper extending into the first wedge from the second surface toward the first surface; and
a second bearing assembly configured to fit within the taper of the second wedge and comprising a first roller bearing.
Re-claim 18, Kim discloses the first wedge (15 and 17a) further comprises an opening therein configured to receive the first spring (23).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-15 are allowed.
Claims 19-20 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MAHBUBUR RASHID whose telephone number is (571)272-7218. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 9am to 10pm EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, ROBERT SICONOLFI can be reached at 5712727124. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MAHBUBUR RASHID/Examiner, Art Unit 3616
/Robert A. Siconolfi/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3616
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