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.
Claims 1-6 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 recites the limitation "a tube cover is provided on both sides of the outer tube," in lines 2-3 of claim 1. The limitation implies the presence of two tube covers. However, the claim later refers to “the tube cover” as a singular element having a perforated hole through which the shaft (3) is slidably threaded. The claim does not specify which tube cover includes the perforated hole, thereby rendering the scope of the claim unclear.
Regarding claim 1, the phrase "the lower edge," "the upper edge," and "the top edge" lack antecedent basis thereby rendering it unclear which elements are being referenced.
Regarding claim 6, the phrase “is stopped to discharge the damping oil” lacks a clear subject, thereby rendering it unclear what component or action is being stopped. It is unclear whether the piston fitting cover, the piston fitting chamber seat, or the oil flow itself is being stopped.
Claim 6 further recites “the upper dead center” and “the lower dead center,” which lack antecedent basis, thereby rendering it unclear what is being referenced.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-6 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
Regarding claim 1, Teraoka, is considered to be the closest prior art reference of record. The reference discloses a shock absorber (S) structure with variable damping, comprising an outer tube (1), a piston (2), and a shaft (3), wherein a tube cover (13) is provided on both sides of the outer tube (1), and a perforated hole (see FIG. 1) is provided on one side of the tube cover (13); a damping chamber (R2) is provided inside the outer tube (1) with damping oil in the damping chamber (R2); the piston (2) is fixed to the shaft (3) and is slidably provided inside the outer tube (1), and the shaft (3) is slidably threaded through the perforated hole (see FIG. 1) of the tube cover (13), and is characterized in that: the shaft (3) is provided with an axial oil passage (3c) and at least one lateral oil passage (3d,3e) communicating with each other, the piston (2) is provided with a plurality of longitudinal oil guiding passages (2a,2b), and is further provided with a spring set, a cushioning piston cover set, wherein the spring set is provided with a cushioning spring (6) and an auxiliary spring (5), and the cushioning piston cover set is provided with a piston fitting chamber seat (24) and a piston fitting cover (4), the piston fitting chamber seat (24) is equipped with several oil guiding holes (24e) on the side near the top edge, and the piston fitting chamber seat (24) is slidably sleeved with the piston fitting cover (4) to enable the piston fitting cover (4) to close and open the oil guiding holes (24e) provided by the piston fitting chamber seat (24); the cushioning piston cover set and the spring set are accommodated in the damping chamber (R2) of the outer tube (1), and the cushioning spring (6) of the spring set is placed against the lower edge of the holding ring (71) of the piston fitting cover (4) on one side.
However, Teraoka does not disclose the two side ends of the axial oil passage are provided with a first screwing part and a second screwing part inwardly and a central oil passage being provided by the inlet regulating bolt and an inlet regulating bolt, and a damping regulating bolt, and the piston fitting chamber seat being provided with a perforated hole on a closed side and a plurality of lateral oil inlet ports and a central oil passage being provided by the inlet regulating bolt, and those lateral oil inlet ports and the central oil passage being communicated; the perforated hole of the piston fitting chamber seat corresponding to the first screwing part of the shaft near the axial oil passage, and the inlet regulating bolt being threaded through the perforated hole of the piston fitting chamber seat and screwed to the first screwing part of the shaft and the auxiliary spring being placed against the upper edge of the holding ring of the piston fitting cover on one side and the other side being placed against the bottom of the piston, and the damping regulating bolt being adjustable by screwing and securing to the second screwing part of the axial oil passage of the shaft.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Karem Akram Algarash whose telephone number is (571) 272-5789. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 8am-5pm.
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/K.A.A./Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3616
/Robert A. Siconolfi/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3616