Specification
The specification is objected to as failing to provide proper antecedent basis for the subject matter amended to claim 1. See 37 CFR 1.75(d)(1) and MPEP § 608.01(o).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
Claims 1 & 3 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Conway, US 10,408,282. At Figs. 1-3, Conway discloses a single-layered hollow transmission shaft (10) comprising:
a hollow (42) shaft body;
a power-inputting end (34); and
a power-outputting end (36); the power-inputting end and the power-outputting end respectively formed at two axially-opposite ends of the hollow shaft body; the hollow shaft body having
at least one multi-start helix set comprising
a left-coiling multi-start helix section (18, col. 3, lines 61-63) having at least one full turn; and
a right-coiling multi-start helix section (14, col. 3, lines 59-63) having at least one full turn;
wherein Figs. 1-3 show the left-coiling multi-start helix section and the right-coiling multi-start helix section being mirror symmetric to each other and arranged axially and having an equal pitch, number of turns, number of starts of helix and width of helix, such that a torsional power inputted from the power-inputting end is transmitted to the power-outputting end by the at least one multi-start helix set of the hollow shaft body in pure-torque transmission (col. 2, lines 16-18),
wherein the hollow shaft body comprises at least one linear tubular section (22)
formed between the left-coiling multi-start helix section and the right-coiling
multi-start helix section of the at least one multi-start helix set.
In the reply filed November 24, 2025, applicant argues Conway fails to anticipate the claims. The argument is unpersuasive because it pertains to an embodiment of Conway (that shown in Figs. 4-7) that is not relied upon in the above rejection.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
Claims 2 & 4-6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Conway. Conway discloses a single-layered hollow transmission shaft comprising all limitations of the claims except for multiples of the multi-start helix set and/or linear tubular section. However such modifications would have been obvious, since such modifications would have involved a mere duplication of parts. The duplication of parts for a multiplied effect has no patentable significance and is considered well within the purview and obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art. St. Regis Paper Co. v. Bemis Co., Inc. 193 USPQ 8, 11 (7th Cir. 1977)
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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.
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/Greg Binda/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3679
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