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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the following must be shown or the features canceled from the claims. No new matter should be entered.
The embodiment from claim 1 wherein “the non-rotatable element is movable in an axial direction” and/or the non-rotatable element holding a gasket and the rotatable element defining a contact area for the gasket
The embodiment from claim 5 wherein “the gasket is provided on the non-rotatable element and the contact area is provided on the rotatable element.”
The embodiment from claim 8 “wherein the protrusion is provided on a radially outer element of the non-rotatable element and the rotatable element by way of a decreased inner diameter of the outer element.”
The embodiment from claim 11 “wherein the rotatable element forms a radially inner element, in particular an inner shaft, and the non-rotatable element forms a radially outer element, in particular an outer shaft, the non-rotatable element at least sectionally surrounding the rotatable element.”
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.84 (q) because the lead lines all contain either dots or arrows on the end. Lead lines should not contain dots and should only contain arrows when referencing an assembly as a whole.
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.84 (q) because the figures are labeled as Figure # but should be labeled as FIG. # where # is replaced by the number of the figure.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 1-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
Regarding claim 1, there is no description in the specification or drawings of how the present invention could have an embodiment where the non-rotatable element is movable in an axial direction in order to seal and unseal the air passageway. With the configurations as shown and described, there would be no way to implement a bias spring to return the engaging element if the element were non-rotatable without redesigning the engaging element and the surrounding components. Furthermore, there is no provision for the rotatable element 2 to be rotatable in relation to the hub flange 19 (e.g. bearing or bearing surface).
Regarding claim 11 there is no description in the specification or drawings of how the present invention could have an embodiment “wherein the rotatable element forms a radially inner element, in particular an inner shaft, and the non-rotatable element forms a radially outer element, in particular an outer shaft, the non-rotatable element at least sectionally surrounding the rotatable element.”
Claims 2-10 and 12-16 are dependent on claim 1 and are therefore also rejected.
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 7, 9, and 11 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.
Regarding claim 7, the phrase "for example" renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitation(s) following the phrase are part of the claimed invention. See MPEP § 2173.05(d).
Regarding claim 9, the phrase "such as" renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitations following the phrase are part of the claimed invention. See MPEP § 2173.05(d).
Regarding claim 11, the phrase "in particular" renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitations following the phrase are part of the claimed invention. See MPEP § 2173.05(d).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1, 4-7, and 9-11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Tsiberidou US 20170246922 A1.
Regarding claim 1, Tsiberidou discloses tire inflation system having a non-rotatable element 56 and a rotatable element 58 mounted at the non-rotatable element 56, a fluid path 68 extending through a cavity of the non-rotatable element and through a cavity of the rotatable element, for passing a fluid from the non-rotatable element 56 to the rotatable element 58, wherein at least one of the rotatable element 58 and the non-rotatable element 56 is movable in an axial direction with respect to the other, between a standard position and an inflation position, and is configured to slide towards the inflation position, against the bias of a return spring 78, in response to a fluid pressure being provided in the fluid path 68, wherein a gap is provided between the non-rotatable element 56 and the rotatable element 58, one of the non-rotatable element 56 and the rotatable element 58 holding a gasket 60 that extends within the gap, and a remaining one of the non-rotatable element 56 and the rotatable element 58 defining a contact area for the gasket 60, wherein, in the inflation position, the gasket 60 is in sealing engagement with the contact area (Fig. 3).
Regarding claim 4, Tsiberidou discloses the tire inflation system of claim 1, wherein the gap is a radial gap. (Fig. 3)
Regarding claim 5, Tsiberidou discloses the tire inflation system of claim 1, wherein the gasket 60 is provided on the rotatable element 58 and the contact area is provided on the non-rotatable element 56. (Fig. 3)
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Regarding claim 6, Tsiberidou discloses the tire inflation system of claim 1, wherein the contact area is provided on a protrusion protruding from the respective element which defines the contact area, the protrusion being arranged to axially align with the gasket in the inflation position. (Fig. 3)
Regarding claim 7, Tsiberidou discloses the tire inflation system of claim 6, wherein the protrusion is provided on a radially inner element of the non-rotatable element 56 and the rotatable element 58 by way of an increased outer diameter of the inner element, for example at an end portion thereof. (Fig. 3)
Regarding claim 9, Tsiberidou discloses the tire inflation system of claim 6, wherein the protrusion includes a widening section, such as a conical section, wherein, in response to the fluid pressure being provided in the fluid path, the gasket is configured to slide across the widening section to the contact area during transition from the standard position towards the inflation position. (Fig. 3)
Regarding claim 10, Tsiberidou discloses the tire inflation system of claim 1, wherein the sealing engagement between the gasket and the contact area includes the gasket being compressed. (Fig. 3)
Regarding claim 11, Tsiberidou discloses the tire inflation system of claim 1, wherein the non-rotatable element 56 forms a radially inner element, in particular an inner shaft, and the rotatable element 58 forms a radially outer element, in particular an outer shaft, the rotatable element at least sectionally surrounding the non-rotatable element (Fig. 3).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ALEX R PALMER whose telephone number is (703)756-1981. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:30 am - 5:00 pm MST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Samuel (Joe) Morano can be reached at (571) 272-6684. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/AP/Examiner, Art Unit 3615
/S. Joseph Morano/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3615