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 § 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 1-8, 10-12 and 13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Sinz [EP 3763970] in view of Kawata [JP 2007146877] in further view of Miyaguchi [DE 4438972].
Regarding claims 1-8, 10, 12 and 13: Sinz shows a ball screw drive, comprising: a threaded spindle (40); a spindle nut (32) which at least partially coaxially encloses the threaded spindle (40), the spindle nut (32) has a substantially cylindrical lateral surface ( see fig 5); a plurality of balls (42) which circulate in an intermediate space between the threaded spindle (40) and the spindle nut (32) in a helical ball race; a ball return guide (26+28+18) bridging more than one winding of the helical ball track with two ball deflectors (26, 28) formed as separate parts and an axially extending transition channel (18) integrally formed in a body of the spindle nut (38) running therebetween; the ball deflectors (26, 28) are arranged in radial through-openings in the spindle nut (38) such that, depending on a direction of rotation of the ball screw drive, the balls (42, see fig 4) are radially lifted out of the ball race by one of the ball deflectors (26, 28) and are deflected into the transition channel (18), and after passing through the transition channel are guided by an other of the ball deflectors (28 or 26) out of the transition channel back into the ball race (see fig 4); the transition channel (18, see fig 2) is configured as a longitudinally pressed-in, radially outwardly open channel or as a longitudinal bore which is introduced into the lateral surface of the spindle nut parallel to an axis of rotation of the spindle nut.
wherein the ball return guide comprises the two ball deflectors (26, 28) which are each formed in one piece and which are separately inserted into the
radial through-openings and a longitudinal bore located in the spindle nut (32) therebetween as the transition channel (18).
Sinz does not shows one or more metal plates on the spindle nut, the one or more metal plates being arranged at least one of in or adjacent to the radial through-openings and being offset inwardly away from the lateral surface, and spanning the ball return guide in a planar manner to fix the ball return guide with the ball deflectors in a target position in the lateral surface of the spindle nut, and upon being fully assembled, the one or more metal plates do not protrude beyond the lateral surface of the spindle nut. wherein the ball return guide comprises a single piece with the two ball deflectors and the tubular transition channel that forms the transition arranged therebetween. wherein in in a fully assembled position, the one or more metal plates terminate flush with the lateral surface of the spindle nut. wherein in a fully assembled position, the one or more metal plates are arranged to be at least partially countersunk in the lateral surface of the spindle nut. wherein the one or more metal plates provide a resilient pressing contact to ensure the fixing of at least one of the ball deflectors or the ball return guide to the spindle nut. wherein the one or more metal plates are produced from spring steel (see translation. wherein one of the one or more metal plates closes a radial through-opening over an entire surface, wherein the one or more metal plates partially covers the radial through-opening.
However Kawata shows and one or more metal plates (5,5) on the spindle nut (2), the one or more metal plates (5, 5) being arranged at least one of in or adjacent to the radial through-openings and being offset inwardly away from the lateral surface (see fig 1), and spanning the ball return guide in a planar manner to fix the ball return guide with the ball deflectors in a target position in the lateral surface of the spindle nut (2), and upon being fully assembled, the one or more metal plates (5, 5) do not protrude beyond the lateral surface of the spindle nut (see front view of fig 3).
wherein the ball return guide comprises a single piece (see fig 1) with the two ball deflectors (4, 4) and the tubular transition channel that forms the transition arranged therebetween.
wherein in in a fully assembled position, the one or more metal plates (5, 5) terminate flush with the lateral surface of the spindle nut (1). wherein in a fully assembled position, the one or more metal plates (5, 5) are arranged to be at least partially countersunk (2bsee fig 6) in the lateral surface of the spindle nut. the one or more metal plates (5,5) provide a resilient pressing contact to ensure the fixing of at least one of the ball deflectors or the ball return guide to the spindle nut.
wherein the one or more metal plates are produced from spring steel (see translation [0015]).
wherein one of the one or more metal plates (5, 5) closes a radial through-opening over an entire surface. wherein the one or more metal plates (5, 5) partially covers the radial through-opening.
Sinz and Kawata do not the one or more metal plates are spot welded or adhesively bonded to the spindle nut, However Miyaguchi teaches the one or more metal plates (plate portion 13 of elemetn14) are spot welded or adhesively bonded to the spindle nut (see translation “…The deflector 4 and the deflector lock spring 14 may be made of metal (s) so that they can be welded. The deflector 4 can be attached to the concave portion 13 of the deflector locking spring 14 with an adhesive which is selected appropriately in accordance with the materials of the deflector 4 and the deflector locking spring 14…”).
It would have been obvious to someone having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the effective filling date to have added metal plates or covers on the deflectors or to protect the ball screw assembly and prevent intrusion of foreign object such as dust.
It would have also been obvious to someone having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the effective filling date to have attached the plates to the deflectors by welding or adhesive bonding as well-known bonding technique in mechanical art welding or adhesive is a quick and cheaper bonding technique.
Regarding claim 11: Sinz does not show wherein the one or more metal plates have a bulge
along one axis and during assembly are oriented such that in a final assembled position the one
or more metal plate exerts a continuous compressive force on at least one of the ball return guide
or the ball deflectors. However Miyaguchi shows wherein the one or more metal plates have a
bulge (13) along one axis and during assembly are oriented such that in a final assembled
position the one or more metal plate (plate portion of 14) exerts a continuous compressive force on at least one of the ball return guide or the ball deflectors.
It would have been obvious to someone having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the
effective filling date to modify the plates taught in Kawata reference with plates that has bulging
portion to hold and press the circulating balls against the track and prevent ball displacement.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 07/21/2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
In response to applicant argument that Sinz and Kawata failed to disclose the added new limitation “...the one or more metal plates are spot welded or adhesively bonded to the spindle nut…”
However Miyaguchi teaches the one or more metal plates (plate portion 13 of elemetn14) are spot welded or adhesively bonded to the spindle nut (see translation “…The deflector 4 and the deflector lock spring 14 may be made of metal (s) so that they can be welded. The deflector 4 can be attached to the concave portion 13 of the deflector locking spring 14 with an adhesive which is selected appropriately in accordance with the materials of the deflector 4 and the deflector locking spring 14…”).
PNG
media_image1.png
891
774
media_image1.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image2.png
836
597
media_image2.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image3.png
662
621
media_image3.png
Greyscale
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ZAKARIA ELAHMADI whose telephone number is (571)270-5324. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F 10-6 EST.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Minnah Seoh can be reached on 571-270-7778. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/ZAKARIA ELAHMADI/
Examiner, Art Unit 3618
Prosecution Insights