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 .
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)(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 2 and 7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Hsu (CN 217994000 U).
Regarding claim 2, Hsu discloses a saddle-riding vehicle wheel (Abstract), comprising: a wheel drum 2 formed as a single piece article (note the specific method (i.e., cast or molded) of forming the wheel drum is not afforded full patentable weight in a product claim as discussed in MPEP 2113), the wheel drum including: a drum body 2 including a cylindrical body section (labeled in reproduced and annotated Fig. 4a provided below) and a flange section (labeled in reproduced and annotated Fig. 4a provided below) formed on the body section at each of axially opposite ends of the body section (Fig. 4a), and an annular collar 4 fitted to an inner circumferential surface of the drum body at one of the axially opposite ends (Fig. 4a): bearings (labeled in reproduced and annotated Fig. 4a provided below); and an axle shaft 1 supported to the wheel drum at each of axially opposite ends of the wheel drum via a respective one of the bearings (Fig. 4a), one of the bearings at one of the axially opposite ends being mounted in place in an axially movable manner relative to the drum body (Note: under a first interpretation of this limitation it is evident from Fig. 4a that the labeled “axially movable bearing” would necessarily be mounted in place in an axially movable manner relative to the drum body to allow the shaft and the bearing mounted thereon to be axially received within the drum body during assembly; under a second interpretation of this limitation where the claimed “axially movable manner” occurs during use of the wheel as set forth in dependent claim 7, it is evident from Fig. 4a that the labeled “axially movable bearing” is capable of moving in an axially inboard direction (e.g. when subject to a sufficiently high force in the axially inboard direction) inasmuch as no structure blocks the bearing from moving in the axially inward direction), and the other of the bearings at the other of the axially opposite ends being mounted in place in an axially immovable manner relative to the drum body (evident from Fig. 4a where the labeled axially immovable bearing is constrained from moving in either axial direction by other structure), wherein a radially inner surface of the annular collar is fitted to a radially outer surface of the one of the bearings (Fig. 4a).
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Regarding claim 7, Hsu further discloses the one of the bearings is configured to move (i.e., capable of moving) towards an axial end of the axle shaft during use of the saddle-riding vehicle wheel evident from Fig. 4a that the labeled “axially movable bearing” is capable of moving in an axially inboard direction (e.g. when subject to a sufficiently high force in the axially inboard direction) inasmuch as no structure blocks the bearing from moving in the axially inward direction).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3 and 4 are allowed.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 9 February 2026 with respect to independent claim 2 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
In response to Applicant’s argument with respect to Hsu that “the bearing provided on the inner surface of the crown 4 is not mounted in place in an axially movable manner relative to the allegedly analogous drum body (i.e., hub housing 2)”, the Examiner respectfully disagrees. As noted above, it is evident from Fig. 4a of Hsu that the labeled “axially movable bearing” would necessarily be mounted in place in an axially movable manner relative to the drum body to allow the shaft and the bearing mounted thereon to be axially received within the drum body during assembly. Without such relative axial movement between the bearing and the drum body during assembly, it would not be possible to assemble the hub assembly as shown in Fig. 4a of Hsu. Assuming arguendo that Applicant’s argument with respect to independent claim 2 requires the “axially movable manner” of the bearing to occur during use of the wheel as contemplated by dependent claim 7, it is evident from Fig. 4a that the labeled “axially movable bearing” is capable of moving in an axially inboard direction (e.g. when subject to a sufficiently high force in the axially inboard direction) inasmuch as no structure blocks the bearing from moving in the axially inward direction.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KIP T KOTTER whose telephone number is (571)272-7953. The examiner can normally be reached 9:30-6 EST Monday-Friday.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Samuel (Joe) J 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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/Kip T Kotter/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3615