DETAILED ACTION
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 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.
4. Claim 31 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Gladstone (GB 1229000).
Re claim 31, Gladstone discloses an axial force transmitter for an actuating device of a brake system, comprising: an elongate first component (24) including a sleeve portion; an elongate second component (22), wherein a first end portion of the second component axially protrudes into the sleeve portion, and the sleeve portion and the first end portion of the second component are connected to each other in an axially fixed manner, wherein the sleeve portion has at least one radially inwardly projecting bulge (26), and the end of the second component (22) comprises a dent complementary to the bulge formed in the first end portion, into which the bulge engages radially.
Gladstone does not disclose wherein the sleeve portion is deformed by applying a pressing force onto the sleeve portion such that the sleeve portion has at least one radially inwardly projecting bulge, and wherein the pressing force is transmitted via the bulge to the first end portion of the second component such that a dent complementary to the bulge forms in the first end portion, into which the bulge engages radially. The forming limitations are product-by-process limitations. Product-by-process limitations are not limited to the recited steps, only the structure implied by the steps. The bulge and complimentary dent are capable of forming by pressing.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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.
Claims 16-19, 21, 24, 25, 29 and 30 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Gladstone (GB 1229000).
Re claim 16, Gladstone teaches an axial force transmitter for an actuating device of a brake system, comprising: an elongate first component including a sleeve portion (24); an elongate second component (22), wherein a first end portion of the second component axially protrudes into the sleeve portion, and the sleeve portion and the first end portion of the second component are connected to each other in an axially fixed manner using pressure forming the sleeve portion. (Fig. 2) Gladstone does not teach wherein the second component includes an axial bore. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to provide an axial bore in the second component of Gladstone to reduce weight.
Re claim 17, Gladstone as modified teaches wherein the sleeve portion (24) includes at least one radially inwardly projecting bulge (26) for forming the axially fixed connection.
Re claim 18, Gladstone as modified teaches wherein the sleeve portion (24) includes multiple radially inwardly projecting bulges (26), which are arranged evenly distributed in a circumferential direction of the sleeve portion.
Re claim 19, Gladstone as modified teaches wherein the first end portion of the second component (22) and the sleeve portion (24) are connected to each other in an axially fixed manner pressure forming the first end portion of the second component. (Page 1, Lines 83-86)
Re claim 21, Gladstone as modified teaches wherein the second component (22) includes a groove (26) which extends circumferentially through the second component, wherein the bulge radially engages the groove to form the axially fixed connection.
Re claim 24, Gladstone as modified teaches actuating device for a brake system, comprising: a displaceable axial force transmitter (14) that can be coupled or is coupled to a brake pedal (10); wherein the axial force transmitter including: an elongate first component including a sleeve portion (24), and an elongate second component (22), wherein a first end portion of the second component axially protrudes into the sleeve portion, and the sleeve portion and the first end portion of the second component are connected to each other in an axially fixed manner. Gladstone does not explicitly teach pressure forming the sleeve portion. This limitation is a product-by-process. Product-by-process limitations are not limited to the recited steps, only the structure implied by the steps. The sleeve portion is capable of forming by pressure forming. (Fig. 2)
Re claim 25, Gladstone as modified teaches wherein the second component (22) is arranged at least in portions in a sleeve-shaped housing portion (28) of the actuating device, and wherein the sleeve portion of the first component (24) is sized such that it can be pushed into the housing portion.
Re claim 29, Gladstone teaches a method for producing an axial force transmitter, comprising the following steps: providing an elongate first component (24) having a sleeve portion; providing an elongate second component (22); arranging the first component and the second component in such a way that a first end portion of the second component axially protrudes into the sleeve portion; and deforming the sleeve portion by means of pressure forming in such a way that the sleeve portion and the first end portion of the second component are connected to each other in an axially fixed manner. (Fig. 2, Page 1, Lines 83-86)
Gladstone does not teach wherein the second component includes an axial bore. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to provide an axial bore in the second component of Gladstone to reduce weight.
Re claim 30, Gladstone as modified teaches wherein the sleeve portion is simultaneously subjected to a pressing force for pressure forming at multiple locations that are evenly distributed in the circumferential direction of the sleeve portion. (Fig. 2, Page 1, Lines 83-86)
Claims 16, 17, 19, 22, and 24 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Basnett (GB 2347388).
Re claim 16, Basnett teaches an axial force transmitter for an actuating device of a brake system, comprising: an elongate first component including a sleeve portion (17); an elongate second component (18), wherein a first end portion of the second component axially protrudes into the sleeve portion, and the sleeve portion and the first end portion of the second component are connected to each other in an axially fixed manner. (Fig. 2)
Basnet does not teach pressure forming of the sleeve portion. The limitation is a product-by-process. Product-by-process limitations are not limited to the recited steps, only the structure implied by the steps. The sleeve portion is capable of forming by pressure forming.
Basnett does not teach wherein the second component includes an axial bore. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to provide an axial bore in the second component of Basnett to reduce weight.
Re claim 17, Basnett as modified teaches wherein the sleeve portion (17) includes at least one radially inwardly projecting bulge (28) for forming the axially fixed connection.
Re claim 19, Basnett as modified teaches wherein the first end portion of the second component and the sleeve portion are connected to each other in an axially fixed manner. Basnett does not disclose pressure forming of the first end portion of the second component. The limitation is a product-by-process. Product-by-process limitations are not limited to the recited steps, only the structure implied by the steps. The first end portion of the second component is capable of forming by pressure forming.
Re claim 22, Basnett as modified teaches wherein an end face of the second component (18) axially abuts against a bottom axially delimiting the sleeve portion (17).
Re claim 24, Basnett teaches an actuating device for a brake system, comprising: a displaceable axial force transmitter that can be coupled or is coupled to a brake pedal (13); wherein the axial force transmitter including: an elongate first component including a sleeve portion (17), and an elongate second component (18), wherein a first end portion of the second component axially protrudes into the sleeve portion, and the sleeve portion and the first end portion of the second component are connected to each other in an axially fixed manner.
Basnet does not teach pressure forming of the sleeve portion. The limitation is a product-by-process. Product-by-process limitations are not limited to the recited steps, only the structure implied by the steps. The sleeve portion is capable of forming by pressure forming.
Basnett does not teach wherein the second component includes an axial bore. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to provide an axial bore in the second component of Basnett to reduce weight.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 23 and 26-28 are allowed.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 16-19 and 21-31 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
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/MELANIE TORRES WILLIAMS/
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3616
MTW
January 26, 2026