DETAILED ACTION
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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 January 13, 2026 has been entered.
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Species 1, Figures 3-8, claims 1, 2 and 4, in the reply filed on July 14, 2025 is acknowledged.
Claim 3 is withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected species, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on July 14, 2025.
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, 2 and 4 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 (lines 15-16) recites “wherein the guide causes the second member to move at least in a direction parallel to the first main joint surface”.
Claim 1 fails to recite any limitations which allow one to properly determine what structural features define the guide such that “the guide causes the second member to move at least in a direction parallel to the first main joint surface”. It is unclear as to how such structural features defining the guide structurally engage each of the first and second members such to “causes the second member to move at least in a direction parallel to the first main joint surface”. Accordingly, one is unable to properly determine the metes and bounds of such claim. Claims 2 and 4 depend from claim 1 and are likewise rejected as being indefinite.
Examiner notes that claim 1 must include the limitations of claim 2 in order to overcome such 35 USC 112 rejection.
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.
Claims 1 and 4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Fanuc (JP 2016-198849) in view Haddadin et al. (US 10,625,414).
As to claim 1 as best understood, Fanuc discloses a joint structure comprising:
a first member 21 having a first main joint surface A (Figure 9 reprinted below with annotations), and a first sub joint surface B that three-dimensionally intersects with the first main joint surface;
a second member 27 having a second main joint surface C opposite to the first main joint surface, and a second sub joint surface D opposite to the first sub joint surface; and
a fastening member 30 configured to fasten the first main joint surface and the second main joint surface, which have been joined to each other, to each other (Figures 4-11).
[AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (B)][AltContent: textbox (D)][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (C)][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (A)][AltContent: arrow]
PNG
media_image1.png
154
184
media_image1.png
Greyscale
Fanuc fails to disclose a joint structure comprising a guide configured to gradually shorten a distance between the first sub joint surface and the second sub joint surface that are opposite to each other as a distance between the first main joint surface and the second main joint surface that are opposite to each other decreases, the guide enabling joining of the second sub joint surface to the first sub joint surface in a state of surface contact, upon joining of the second main joint surface to the first main joint surface in a state of surface contact, the guide being further configured to position the second member relative to the first member; wherein the guide causes the second member to move at least in a direction parallel to the first main joint surface.
Haddadin et al. teach a joint structure comprising a guide 22 configured to gradually shorten a distance between a first sub joint surface 14b of a first member 12a and a second sub joint surface 14b of a second member 12b that are opposite to each other as a distance between a first main joint surface 14a and a second main joint surface 14a that are opposite to each other decreases, the guide enabling joining of the second sub joint surface to the first sub joint surface in a state of surface contact, upon joining of the second main joint surface to the first main joint surface in a state of surface contact, the guide being further configured to position the second member relative to the first member; wherein the guide causes the second member to move at least in a direction parallel to the first main joint surface (guide projection 22 inherently moves second member 12b in parallel to first main joint surface 14a, as the guide projection is aligned with guide hole on first member 12a); the guide comprising a guide projection 22 provided on the first main joint surface and a guide hole (not shown; C6 L27-36) formed in the second main joint surface, and adapted to receive the guide projection fitted therein; the guide projection matingly received in the guide hole to ensure proper positioning and assembly between the first and second members (Figures 2-3). Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the joint structure disclosed by Fanuc to comprise a guide projection on the first main joint surface matingly received in a guide hole in the second main joint surface, as taught by Haddadin et al., such that the guide causes the second member to move at least in a direction parallel to the first main joint surface, in order to ensure proper positioning and assembly between the first and second members.
As to claim 4, Fanuc discloses a joint structure wherein a sealing member 35 is interposed between the first main joint surface A and the second main joint surface C and between the first sub joint surface B and the second sub joint surface D (Figures 4-11).
Claim 2 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Fanuc in view Haddadin et al., as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Morris et al. (US 2015/0078805).
As to claim 2, Fanuc as modified by Haddadin et al. discloses a joint structure wherein the guide comprises: a guide projection (22 Haddadin Figure 3) provided on one among the first main joint surface A and the second main joint surface C; and a guide hole (not shown; Haddadin C6 L27-36) formed in the other among the first main joint surface and the second main joint surface, and adapted to receive the guide projection fitted therein.
Fanuc as modified by Haddadin et al. fail to explicitly disclose that the guide hole has an inclined guide surface that causes the second member to move toward the first sub joint surface as the guide projection is inserted deeper.
Morris et al. teach a joint structure wherein a guide comprises: a guide projection 102 provided on one among the first main joint surface A of a first member 40 and the second main joint surface 110 of a second member 42 (Figure 8 reprinted below with annotations); and a guide hole 204 formed in the other among the first main joint surface and the second main joint surface, and adapted to receive the guide projection fitted therein, and the guide hole has an inclined guide surface that causes the second member to move toward a first sub joint surface B as the guide projection is inserted deeper; the inclined guide surface of the guide hole ensuring proper positioning and assembly between the first and second members (Figures 7-8). Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the joint structure disclosed by Fanuc as modified by Haddadin et al. wherein the guide hole comprises an inclined guide surface, as taught by Morris et al., in order to ensure proper positioning and assembly between the first and second members.
[AltContent: arrow][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (B)][AltContent: textbox (A)]
PNG
media_image2.png
286
249
media_image2.png
Greyscale
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed January 13, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
As to claim 1, Attorney argues that:
Haddadin et al. fail to teach or suggest modifying the joint structured disclosed by Fanuc to comprise a guide configured to gradually shorten a distance between the first sub joint surface and the second sub joint surface that are opposite to each other as a distance between the first main joint surface and the second main joint surface that are opposite to each other decreases; wherein the guide causes the second member to move at least in a direction parallel to the first main joint surface.
Examiner disagrees. As to claim 1 as best understood, Fanuc discloses a joint structure comprising: a first member 21 having a first main joint surface A (Figure 9 reprinted above with annotations), and a first sub joint surface B that three-dimensionally intersects with the first main joint surface; a second member 27 having a second main joint surface C opposite to the first main joint surface, and a second sub joint surface D opposite to the first sub joint surface (Figures 4-11).
Fanuc fails to disclose a join structure comprising a guide configured to gradually shorten a distance between the first sub joint surface and the second sub joint surface that are opposite to each other as a distance between the first main joint surface and the second main joint surface that are opposite to each other decreases, the guide enabling joining of the second sub joint surface to the first sub joint surface in a state of surface contact, upon joining of the second main joint surface to the first main joint surface in a state of surface contact, the guide being further configured to position the second member relative to the first member; wherein the guide causes the second member to move at least in a direction parallel to the first main joint surface.
Haddadin et al. teach a joint structure comprising a guide 22 configured to gradually shorten a distance between a first sub joint surface 14b of a first member 12a and a second sub joint surface 14b of a second member 12b that are opposite to each other as a distance between a first main joint surface 14a and a second main joint surface 14a that are opposite to each other decreases, the guide enabling joining of the second sub joint surface to the first sub joint surface in a state of surface contact, upon joining of the second main joint surface to the first main joint surface in a state of surface contact, the guide being further configured to position the second member relative to the first member; wherein the guide causes the second member to move at least in a direction parallel to the first main joint surface (guide projection 22 inherently moves second member 12b in parallel to first main joint surface 14a, as the guide projection is aligned with guide hole on first member 12a); the guide comprising a guide projection 22 provided on the first main joint surface and a guide hole (not shown; C6 L27-36) formed in the second main joint surface, and adapted to receive the guide projection fitted therein; the guide projection matingly received in the guide hole to ensure proper positioning and assembly between the first and second members (Figures 2-3). Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the joint structure disclosed by Fanuc to comprise a guide projection on the first main joint surface matingly received in a guide hole in the second main joint surface, as taught by Haddadin et al., such that the guide causes the second member to move at least in a direction parallel to the first main joint surface, in order to ensure proper positioning and assembly between the first and second members.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MICHAEL P FERGUSON whose telephone number is (571)272-7081. The examiner can normally be reached M-F (10:00 am-7:00 pm EST).
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, Anna Momper can be reached at (571)270-5788. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
02/12/26
/MICHAEL P FERGUSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3619