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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of the disc wheel set forth in claims 1-15 in the reply filed on 17 November 2025 is acknowledged.
Claims 16-21 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 17 November 2025.
Information Disclosure Statement
The listing of references in the specification is not a proper information disclosure statement. 37 CFR 1.98(b) requires a list of all patents, publications, or other information submitted for consideration by the Office, and MPEP § 609.04(a) states, "the list may not be incorporated into the specification but must be submitted in a separate paper." Therefore, unless the references have been cited by the examiner on form PTO-892, they have not been considered.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(4) because reference characters "30" and "20" have both been used to designate the same element.
Reference characters "54" and "50" have both been used to designate the same element.
Reference characters "82" and "84" have both been used to designate the same element.
Reference characters "60" and "64" have both been used to designate the same element.
It should be noted that reference characters denoting an overall element should include an arrowhead at the end of its leader line.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(4) because reference character “106” has been used to designate both the outboard end and a transition portion.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: In paragraph [0066], reference character “102” should be replaced with - -109- -.
Reference character “108” has been used to denote both the “initial hoop” and the “inboard end”.
Reference character “106” has been used to denote both a “transition portion” and the “outboard end”.
Appropriate correction is required.
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.
Claim(s) 1-15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Abe et al (7,111,910).
Per claim 1, Abe et al shows a wheel having an annular rim 12 defining an axis and inboard and outboard sides. The rim 12 includes inboard and outboard bead seats, inboard and outboard well flanks that extend radially inwardly and towards the outboard and inboard sides, respectively. A well portion is defined between the inboard and outboard well flanks, and is defined by a plurality of curved and straight portions linked together. The well portion includes at least three transition portions of varying thickness cross-sectional profiles. A wheel disc including a centrally located hub with a plurality of bolt holes formed therein is inherently secured to the rim 12 to form the complete wheel.
Per claim 2, the wheel is a commercial vehicle wheel.
Per claim 3, the rim 12 is made by forming a metallic hoop.
Regarding claim 4, the limitation that the rim is formed by a flow forming process is a method limitation in a product claim, and thus receives no patentable weight (see MPEP 2113).
Per claim 5, the well portion has a first transition portion (generally at B) of increasing thickness in a direction from the outboard side to the inboard side of the rim 12.
Per claim 6, the well portion includes a second transition portion (generally C-D) of decreasing thickness in the direction from the outboard side to the inboard side of the rim 12.
Per claim 7, the second transition portion (C-D) includes a plurality of interconnected curved portions (as noted by four radii R therebetween).
Per claim 8, the well portion includes a straight cylindrical portion (generally B-C) between the first (B) and second (C-D) transition portions.
Per claim 9, the well portion includes a third transition portion (generally at noted by the two radii R adjacent the bottom dotted line of region D) of increasing thickness in the direction from the outboard side to the inboard side of the rim 12.
Per claim 10, the well portion includes a curved portion (the first of the two radii R defining the third transition portion) disposed between the second (C-D) and third transition portions.
Per claim 11, the well portion defines a fourth transition portion (generally at E) of decreasing thickness in the direction from the outboard side to the inboard side of the rim 12.
Per claim 12, the fourth transition portion (E) has a curved shape.
Per claim 13, Abe et al shows a commercial wheel having all of the features therein, as claim 13 incorporates the limitations of claims 1-11.
Per claim 14, Abe et al shows a commercial wheel having all of the features therein, as claim 14 incorporates the limitations of claim 7.
Per claim 15, Abe et al shows a commercial wheel having all of the features therein, as claim 15 incorporates the limitations of claim 12.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The reference characters show the cross-sectional shape of wheel rims.
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