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 § 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.
Claim 4 is 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 4, the limitation “a pilot chamber generating a force in a direction of reducing a flow path area” is unclear. It is unclear because claim 1 has already defined “a pilot chamber communicating with the second passage and configured to generate a force in a direction of reducing a flow path area”. It is unclear if the pilot chamber in claim 1 is the same pilot chamber as recited in claim 4.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 3, 5-11 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: with regards to claims 1, 6 and 7, the closest prior art Kim US20200393015, discloses cylinder 100 containing oil ([0051]), piston valve 1200 separating chambers 110 and 120 ([0051-0052]), flow paths 1210/1220 ([0055-0058]), piston-valve damping discs associated with 1200 ([0057-0058]), second passage connected upstream 1130 with connection holes 1130c, inlet disc 1350 ([0053]), housing 1310, main retainer 1320, main chamber 1325, first pilot valve 1330/1331/1332, pilot chamber 1315 which communicates through 1130, wherein pressure from 1315 controls deformation of 1330 ([0051-0058]).
As to claim 1, the prior art of record, taken alone or in combination, fails to disclose or render obvious wherein a damping valve provided in the first passage and configured to change a flow path area due to a flow of the working fluid; a second passage communicating with an upstream side of the damping valve via a throttle; a third passage communicating with a downstream side of the damping valve; a passage part provided between the second passage and the third passage; and an elastic member having rubber elasticity provided in the passage part, wherein the elastic member includes: a seal part configured to suppress a flow of the working fluid from the second passage to the third passage; and a pressure receiving part configured to receive a pressure of the second passage., wherein the shock absorber further comprises a pilot chamber communicating with the second passage and configured to generate a force in a direction of reducing a flow path area of the damping valve due to an internal pressure.
As to claim 6, the prior art of record, taken alone or in combination, fails to disclose or render obvious a damping valve provided in the first passage and configured to change a flow path area due to a flow of the working fluid; a second passage communicating with an upstream side of the damping valve via a throttle; a third passage communicating with a downstream side of the damping valve; a seal chamber provided between the second passage and the third passage; a moving member provided in the seal chamber and including a seal part which suppresses a flow of the working fluid from the second passage to the third passage; and a pilot case forming a pilot chamber which communicates with the second passage and generates a force in a direction of reducing a flow path area of the damping valve due to an internal pressure, wherein the pilot chamber and the seal chamber are formed in the pilot case at positions at which they overlap each other in an axial direction.
As to claim 7, the prior art of record, taken alone or in combination, fails to disclose or render obvious a damping valve provided in the first passage and configured to change a flow path area due to a flow of the working fluid; and a second passage communicating with an upstream side of the damping valve via a throttle, the frequency sensitive mechanism comprising: a third passage communicating with a downstream side of the damping valve; a passage part provided between the second passage and the third passage; and an elastic member having rubber elasticity provided in the passage part, wherein the elastic member includes: a seal part configured to suppress a flow of the working fluid from the second passage to the third passage; and a pressure receiving part configured to receive a pressure of the second passage.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JAMES K HSIAO whose telephone number is (571)272-6259. The examiner can normally be reached 9-5, Monday-Friday.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Robert Siconolfi can be reached at 571-272-7124. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JAMES K HSIAO/Examiner, Art Unit 3616
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