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 .
This office action is a response to the restriction requirement filed on 6/24/2026.
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Group I, claims 1-2, in the reply filed on 6/24/2026 is acknowledged.
Claims 3-6 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 6/24/2026.
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
The following title is suggested: --MAGNET FIXING METHOD--.
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 1-2 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.
Re. claim 1: The phrase “magnet fixing method” as recited in line 4 lacks antecedent basis.
The phrase “the slots face sideways” as recited in line 9 lacks antecedent basis.
The phrase “the corresponding slot” and “the associated foam layer” as recited in line 10 lacks antecedent basis.
The phrase “the corresponding one or more of the slots” as recited in lines 14-15 lacks antecedent basis.
The phrase “the associated one or more of the fixing sheets” as recited in line 15 lacks antecedent basis.
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.
Claims 1-2 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kawano et al. (PGPub 2021/0194300 A1).
Kawano et al. teach a process of fixing method of inserting magnets to which fixing sheets are bonded into slots of a rotor core formed by stacking core pieces and fixing the magnets to the slots with the fixing sheets in between, each fixing sheet including a foam layer that is bonded to a surface of the corresponding magnet and is foamed when heated, the magnet fixing method comprising: inserting one or more of the magnets (311, 331, Fig. 4, paragraphs [0047], [0058]-[0060]) to which the fixing sheets (312, Fig. 4, paragraphs [0048], [0056]) are bonded, into uppermost one or more of the slots with the rotor core being rotatably supported by a rotating jig (not shown) such that openings of the slots face sideways (paragraph [0048]); and fixing each magnet to the corresponding slot by heating the associated foam layer to foam the foam layer as shown in Fig. 5 paragraphs [0062]-0065]), heating the rotor core (paragraphs [0062], [0064]; wherein the inserting one or more of the magnets includes inserting the magnets into all the slots by repeating :insertion of one or more of the magnets into the corresponding one or more of the slots with the associated one or more of the fixing sheets facing upward; and rotation of the rotor core (paragraphs [0065]-[0068]).
Re. claim 2: The fixing each magnet to the corresponding slot includes rotating the rotor core, in which the magnets are inserted into all the slots, with the rotating jig to apply a centrifugal force to each of the magnets, thereby pressing each fixing sheet against an inner surface of the corresponding slot (paragraph [0048]).
The Prior Art
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Hasegawa et al. (PGPub 2016/0072370 A1), Kino et al. (US PAT. 10,326,342), and Saito et al. (PGPub 2014/0217859 A1) are cited to further show the state of the art with respect to a magnet fixing method of inserting magnets to which fixing sheets are bonded into slots of a rotor core formed by stacking core pieces and fixing the magnets to the slots with the fixing sheets in between.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PAUL D KIM whose telephone number is (571)272-4565. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday: 6:00 AM-2:00 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Thomas Hong can be reached at 571-272-0993. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/PAUL D KIM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3729
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