Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions.
Drawings
The drawings were received on 10 March 2026. These drawings are approved.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
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-AIA ), 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.
Claims 1-10, 12-20, and 27 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 1 is indefinite due to the fact it is unclear what is actually being claimed by the phrases “configured to attach” in line 4, “configured to mount” in line 6, and “arranged to couple” in line 12. These phrases are generally narrative and fail to describe any actual physical structure of the invention.
Claims 1, 20, and 27 are indefinite due to the fact that it is unclear how the first side of the drive member is “facing away” from the wheel. No directional indicators (i.e. axially, radially, etc.) have been provided to clearly define this limitation.
Claim 12 is indefinite due to the fact that it is unclear how the rotor disc portion is “configured to be engaged”, given the fact that this phrase is generally narrative and fails to describe any actual physical structure of the invention.
Claim 15 is indefinite due to the fact that the phrases “a mount”, “a hub”, and “a wheel” are all double recitations. This limitation has been previously set forth in the claims. Therefore, it is unclear whether the aforementioned phrases all set forth in line 3 are the same elements of the invention as previously set forth in the claims, or are additional elements of the invention.
Claim 17 is indefinite due to the fact it is unclear what is actually being claimed by the phrase “configured to attach” in line 5, given the fact that this phrase is generally narrative and fails to describe any actual physical structure of the invention.
Claim 27 is indefinite due to the fact it is unclear what is actually being claimed by the phrase “suitable for attachment” in line 4, given the fact that this phrase is generally narrative and fails to describe any actual physical structure of the invention.
Claim 3 recites the limitation "the mount" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. This limitation has not been previously set forth in the claims.
Claim 15 recites the limitation "the mount" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. This limitation has not been previously set forth in the claims.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-10, 12-20, and 27 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(a), (b), and/or (f) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 1st, 2nd, or 6th paragraphs, set forth in this Office action.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 10 March 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. The Applicant argues that the phrases “configured to attach”, “configured to be engaged”, “configured to mount” and “arranged to couple to” are not indefinite, and “commonly used in apparatus claims to denote structural relationships of functional connections between components”, and that one of ordinary skill in the art would “readily understand” these expressions. However, as set forth above, these phrases are generally narrative and indefinite, given the fact that no actual physical structure of the invention is set forth by these phrases.
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 JASON R BELLINGER whose telephone number is (571)272-6680. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-4.
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, Samuel (Joe) Morano can be reached at (571)272-6684. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JASON R BELLINGER/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3615
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