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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 September 19, 2025 has been entered.
Response to Amendment
Claims 1, 12-14, and 16 have been amended. Therefore, claims 1-16 remain pending in the application. Applicant’s amendments to the Drawings, Specification, and Claims have overcome a majority of objections and the 112(b) rejection previously set forth in the Final Office Action mailed March 21, 2025. An unaddressed claim objection is maintained and is as set forth below.
Drawings
The Examiner notes the Drawings filed September 19, 2025 appears to have numerous informalities and respectfully requests Applicant to carefully review the Drawings in its entirety and correct appropriately.
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they include the following reference character(s) not mentioned in the description: 12l, F1, F2, F3 in Fig 2B. Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d), or amendment to the specification to add the reference character(s) in the description in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(b) 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)(5) because they do not include the following reference sign(s) mentioned in the description: 10a and 12s. 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 under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the "nut " in claims 2-3 and 6-7 and "the screw or the nut comprises carriers" in claim 7 must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
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. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. 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 Examiner notes the Specification filed September 19, 2025 appears to have numerous informalities and respectfully requests Applicant to carefully review the Specification in its entirety and correct appropriately.
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
Examiner suggests amending all instances of “Fig. 2a”, “Fig. 2b”, and “Fig. 2c” with “Fig. 2A”, “Fig. 2B”, and “Fig. 2C”, respectively, to reflect amended Drawings
In Pg 6, line 28, “system 10” is unclear
In Pg 13, “LIST OF REFERNCE NUMERALS” is unclear, for example, reference character 10 indicates a means for a screw connection and a screw; reference character 1 has been defined as screw connection element, etc.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Objections
Claim 13 is objected to because of the following informalities:
In claim 13, lines 5-6, “near-field communication device” should read “a near-field communication device”
Appropriate correction is required.
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 1-16 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.
Regarding claim 1, lines 3-4, the claim limitation of “a first of the two elements comprises a recess into which a second of the two elements is embedded” is unclear and renders the claim indefinite. Specifically, it is unclear if “the two elements” refers to the “at least two individual elements” as recited in line 2 or the “connection device as a first element and a washer as a second element” as recited in lines 2-3. For the purpose of examination, claim 1 will be read as “a first of two elements comprises a recess into which a second of the two elements is embedded”.
Claims 2-16 are rejected as being dependent on, and failing to cure the deficiencies of, rejected independent claim 1.
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.
Claim(s) 1-6, 10, and 12-15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Draeger et al. (DE102010001144A1), hereinafter "Draeger".
Regarding claim 1, as best understood, Draeger teaches a screw connection system (Fig 4, mechanical connecting component 100), comprising:
at least two individual elements (see Fig 4, Paragraph 0053, Examiner notes screw 200 and sensor disk 220 as at least two individual elements) comprising a connection device (see Fig 4, Paragraph 0053, Examiner notes screw 200 as a connection device) as a first element (Fig 4, screw 200) and a washer (see Fig 4, Paragraph 0053, Examiner notes sensor disk 220 as a washer) as a second element (Fig 4, sensor disk 220), wherein a first (see Fig 4, Examiner notes screw head 210 as a first) of the two elements (see Fig 4, Examiner notes screw head 210 and electronics 230 as the two elements) comprises a recess (see Fig 4, Paragraph 0053, Examiner notes a recess in screw head 210 in which electronics 230 are arranged in as comprises a recess) into which a second (see Fig 4, Examiner notes electronics 230 as a second) of the two elements (see Fig 4) is embedded (see Fig 4, Paragraph 0053, Examiner notes electronics 230 arranged in a screw head 210 as embedded), the screw connection system (100) further comprising:
an energy supply device (see Figs 2 and 4, Paragraph 0058, energy storage device 150);
a communication device (Fig 4, wireless interface 120);
and a sensor system (Fig 4, sensor layer 110),
wherein the energy supply device (150) is configured to supply (Paragraphs 0028 and 0054) the sensor system (110) and/or the communication device (120) with energy (Paragraphs 0028 and 0054),
wherein the communication device (120) is configured to transfer (Paragraph 0027) a sensor value (Paragraph 0027) that is determined with an aid (Paragraph 0027) of the sensor system (110) to an outside (Paragraph 0027);
wherein the washer (see Fig 4) comprises at least two elements (see Figs 3-4, Paragraph 0007, Examiner notes sensor layer 110, base body 170, and electrical insulation and wear protection layer 190 as comprises at least two elements);
wherein a sensor layer system (Paragraphs 0060-0061) or a sensor layer (Paragraphs 0060-0061) or a Diaforce layer (Paragraphs 0060-0061) is provided as part (Paragraphs 0060-0061) of the sensor system (110) between (see Figs 3-4, Paragraph 0007, Examiner notes sensor layer 110 between base body 170 and electrical insulation and wear protection layer 190 as between) the at least two elements (see Figs 3-4) of the washer (see Fig 4).
Regarding claim 2, as best understood, Draeger teaches the screw connection system (100) according to claim 1 and further teaches wherein a screw (see Fig 4, Paragraph 0053, Draeger indicates a screw 200) or a nut forms the first element (200).
Regarding claim 3, as best understood, Draeger teaches the screw connection system (100) according to claim 1 and further teaches wherein the energy supply device (150) and the communication device (120) are integrated (see Fig 4, Paragraph 0058) into a screw (see Fig 4, Paragraph 0053, Draeger indicates a screw 200) or into a nut.
Regarding claim 4, as best understood, Draeger teaches the screw connection system (100) according to claim 1 and further teaches wherein the sensor system (110) is integrated (see Fig 4, Paragraph 0053) into the washer (see Fig 4).
Regarding claim 5, as best understood, Draeger teaches the screw connection system (100) according to claim 1 and further teaches wherein the at least two elements (see Figs 3-4) extend concentrically (see Figs 3-4) with respect to each other (see Figs 3-4) and/or extend radially symmetrically (see Figs 3-4) around a drill axis (see Figs 3-4, Examiner notes with respect to Fig 4, an axis of sensor disk 220 in which screw 200 extends through as a drill axis).
Regarding claim 6, as best understood, Draeger teaches the screw connection system (100) according to claim 1 and further teaches wherein one (Fig 3, electrical insulation and wear protection layer 190) of the at least two elements (see Figs 3-4) of the washer (see Fig 4) comprises a recess (see Figs 3-4, Paragraphs 0007 and 0049, Examiner notes recesses in electrical insulation and wear protection layer 190 in which electrode structure 180 is embedded in as comprises a recess) or concentric recess on a side facing (see Figs 3-4, Paragraph 0056) a screw (see Fig 4, Paragraph 0053, Draeger indicates a screw 200) or a nut.
Regarding claim 10, as best understood, Draeger teaches the screw connection system (100) according to claim 1 and further teaches wherein the sensor system (110) is inductively or capacitively connected (Paragraphs 0023-0024) to the energy supply device (150) and/or the communication device (120).
Regarding claim 12, as best understood, Draeger teaches the screw connection system (100) according to claim 1 and further teaches wherein the communication device (120) comprises a Wi-Fi™ communication device or Bluetooth™ communication device (Paragraph 0058, Draeger indicates wireless interface 120 can be designed as a radio interface which transmits communication data in a Bluetooth network or WLAN network).
Regarding claim 13, as best understood, Draeger teaches the screw connection system (100) according to claim 1 and further teaches wherein the connection device (see Fig 4) comprises a near-field communication device (Paragraph 0061, Draeger indicates RFID sensor node and electric or magnetic near field), wherein the near-field communication device (Paragraph 0061) is configured to perform near-field communication (Paragraph 0061) without energy supply (Paragraph 0061) by the energy supply device (150); and/or
wherein the connection device (see Fig 4) comprises near-field communication device (Paragraph 0061, Draeger indicates RFID sensor node and electric or magnetic near field), wherein the near-field communication device (Paragraph 0061) is configured to perform (Paragraph 0061) near-field communication (Paragraph 0061) without energy supply (Paragraph 0061) by the energy supply device (150), and wherein the near-field communication device (Paragraph 0061) is configured to communicate in an identical or at least partially overlapping or non-overlapping frequency band (Paragraph 0075, Examiner notes Draeger’s indication of the wireless interface can be adapted to have an optimal transmission and reception range and high-frequency radio interfaces can be influenced in their resonance frequency and radio properties by a metal environment and may therefore require adaptation to the environment as configured to communicate in an identical or at least partially overlapping or non-overlapping frequency band) as the communication device (120).
Regarding claim 14, as best understood, Draeger teaches the screw connection system (100) according to claim 1 and further teaches wherein the connection device (see Fig 4) comprises at least one screw (see Fig 4, Paragraph 0053, Draeger indicates a screw 200), wherein the at least one screw (see Fig 4) comprises a recess (see Fig 4) in a screw head (Fig 4, screw head 210) and/or a **milled-out** portion (Paragraph 0055) in a shank (Paragraph 0055), and wherein the energy supply device (150) and/or the communication device (120) is arranged (see Fig 4) in one or several recesses (see Fig 4).
**Examiner notes that even though a product-by-process claim is limited by and defined by the process, determination of patentability is based on the product itself. The patentability of a product does not depend on its method of production. If the product in the product-by-process claim is the same as or obvious from a product of the prior art, the claim is unpatentable even though the prior product was made by a different process. In re Thorpe, 777 F.2d 695, 698,227 USPQ 964,966 (Fed. Cir. 1985).
Regarding claim 15, as best understood, Draeger teaches the screw connection system (100) according to claim 1 and further teaches wherein the sensor system (110) comprises a temperature sensor system, a force sensor system (Paragraphs 0060-0061, Draeger indicates measure the forces prevailing at a screw connection), or a further sensor system; and/or
wherein the sensor system (110) is connected to a processor (see Figs 2 and 4, processor 140) configured to read out (Paragraph 0027) the sensor value (Paragraph 0027) in a digital or analog manner (see Figs 2 and 4, analog/digital converter 130) or on a basis of a frequency (Paragraph 0052) that is varied across a resistor (Paragraph 0052) as a frequency-determining element (Paragraph 0052); and/or
wherein the sensor system (110) is connected to a processor (see Figs 2 and 4, processor 140) and wherein the processor (140) is arranged together (see Figs 2 and 4, Paragraph 0058) with the energy supply device (150) and/or the communication device (120), and wherein the processor (140) is configured to read out (Paragraph 0027) the sensor value (Paragraph 0027).
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.
Claim(s) 7-9 and 16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Draeger, in view of Michiwaki (US20180067003A1), hereinafter "Michiwaki".
Regarding claim 7, as best understood, Draeger teaches the screw connection system (100) according to claim 3 but fails to teach wherein the screw or the nut and/or the washer comprises carriers arranged on a side facing the first and/or second element and configured to limit torsion of the screw or the nut with respect to the washer.
Michiwaki teaches wherein the screw (Fig 9, screw body 40) or the nut and/or the washer comprises carriers (Fig 9, screw-body-side seat part 122) arranged on a side (see Fig 9) facing (see Fig 9) the first and/or second element (Fig 9, washer 150) and configured to limit torsion (Paragraph 0135, Michiwaki indicates loosening prevention) of the screw (40) or the nut with respect to the washer (150).
Therefore, as evidenced by Michiwaki, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate adequately sized and shaped carriers as taught by Michiwaki to Draeger. The rationale for supporting this conclusion of obviousness is to prevent relative rotation between the screw and the washer (Michiwaki, Paragraph 0135).
Regarding claim 8, as best understood, modified Draeger teaches the screw connection system (100) according to claim 7 and further teaches wherein the sensor system (110) is connected (see Fig 4, Paragraph 0054 and 0058) to the energy supply device (150) and/or the communication device (120) via cables (Fig 4, connection 240), and wherein a cable connection (see Fig 4, Paragraph 0054 and 0058) extends in a recess (see Fig 4, Examiner notes connection 240 extending between sensor disk 220 to electronics 230 as extends in a recess).
Regarding claim 9, as best understood, modified Draeger teaches the screw connection system (100) according to claim 7 and further teaches wherein the sensor system (110) is connected (see Fig 4, Paragraph 0054 and 0058) to the energy supply device (150) and/or the communication device (120) via a cable connection (Fig 4, connection 240) or an electrical contact.
Regarding claim 16, as best understood, Draeger teaches the screw connection system (100) according to claim 1 and further teaches wherein the connection device (see Fig 4) comprises a screw (see Fig 4, Paragraph 0053, Draeger indicates a screw 200) but fails to teach and wherein a cooling body is provided as part of a screw head.
Michiwaki teaches wherein a cooling body is provided as part of a screw head (see Fig 9, Paragraph 0208, Examiner notes a Peltier device may also be installed on the parent material which is a different position from the conduction path and the Peltier device may be installed and displaced at a position at which temperature may change easily, i.e. heat absorbing and heat emitting parts).
Therefore, as evidenced by Michiwaki, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate an adequately sized and shaped cooling body as part of the screw head as taught by Michiwaki to Draeger. The rationale for supporting this conclusion of obviousness is to facilitate heating or cooling of the screw to a desired temperature based on an environment of the application (Michiwaki, Paragraph 0208).
Claim(s) 11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Draeger, in view of Klasén (US20170167857A1), hereinafter "Klasén".
Regarding claim 11, as best understood, Draeger teaches the screw connection system (100) according to claim 1 but fails to teach wherein the energy supply device comprises an energy harvester, a thermal energy harvester, a solar cell as an energy harvester, and/or a vibration transducer as an energy harvester.
Klasén teaches wherein the energy supply device (Fig 1, energy storing unit 9) comprises an energy harvester (Fig 1, charging unit 8, Paragraphs 0045-0046), a thermal energy harvester (Paragraphs 0045-0046), a solar cell (Paragraphs 0045-0046) as an energy harvester (Paragraphs 0045-0046), and/or a vibration transducer (Paragraphs 0045-0046) as an energy harvester (Paragraphs 0045-0046).
Therefore, as evidenced by Klasén, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate an adequately sized and shaped energy harvester, a thermal energy harvester, a solar cell as an energy harvester, and/or a vibration transducer as an energy harvester as taught by Klasén to Draeger. The rationale for supporting this conclusion of obviousness is to harvest energy from the surrounding environment (Klasén, Paragraphs 0045-0046).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed September 19, 2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. With respect to amended claim 1 on Pgs 9-10 of Applicant’s Remarks filed September 19, 2025, Applicant indicates amendments of independent claim 1 are presented characterizing the washer in detail, i.e. the washer is now characterized as comprising two elements. Applicant argues Draeger does not disclose, teach or suggest a washer having two distinct washer elements, wherein a first washer element comprises a recess in which a second washer element is embedded. The Examiner respectfully disagrees and notes Applicant’s arguments appear to be further limiting than amended claim 1. As set forth above, the claim limitation in claim 1, lines 3-4, of “a first of the two elements comprises a recess into which a second of the two elements is embedded” is unclear and renders the claim indefinite. Further, the claim limitation in claim 1, lines 3-4, does not appear to characterize the washer as comprising two elements. Accordingly, Applicant’s arguments are not persuasive.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOCK WONG whose telephone number is (571)270-1349. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 5:00pm (ET).
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/J.W./Examiner, Art Unit 3675 /KRISTINA R FULTON/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3675