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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant's election with traverse of Species 1 in the reply filed on 4/13/2026 is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) that reasons were not given for the requirement. This is not found persuasive because reasons were given on Pg. 3 of the restriction requirement on 2/13/2026. The different species require additional text search queries and strategies to examine all the different features in the current set of claims and on amendment.
The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL.
Claims 17-20 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected Species 2, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Applicant timely traversed the restriction (election) requirement in the reply filed on 4/13/2026.
DETAILED ACTION
This is the first action on the merits for application 18/393155. Claims 1-20 are currently pending in this application. Claims 17-20 have been withdrawn. Claims 1-16 are currently under examination.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of papers submitted under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d), which papers have been placed of record in the file.
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.
Claim(s) 1, 2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over JONES (7,055,662) in view of PERROT (1,875,759).
Regarding Claim 1, JONES teaches A drum brake comprising: a motor (38) configured to generate rotational driving force; a pair of presses (20)(20’) configured to press a brake shoe (24)(24’) toward an inner circumferential surface of a drum (12); and a power transmission unit configured to transmit the rotational driving force of the motor (38) to the presses, wherein: the power transmission unit includes a shaft (34) configured to be rotatable by the rotational driving force of the motor, and a cam (32) configured to be rotatable in association with rotation of the shaft (34), the drum brake further comprises a pair of rollers (26)(26’) rotatably fixed to the pair of presses (20)(20’), respectively, and rotatably contacting the cam (32) to convert rotary movement of the cam (32) into a translational movement,
JONES does not teach and the shaft and the cam are operably connected by a universal joint such that a rotational axis of the shaft and a rotational axis of the cam are angled from each other.
PERROT teaches the shaft (4) and the cam (3) are operably connected by a universal joint (end of 3)(end of 4)(9)(10)(11) such that a rotational axis of the shaft and a rotational axis of the cam are angled from each other (Figs. 1-6).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to change the brake in JONES so it has the universal joint in PERROT so the cam can float to equalize pressure between the shoes.
Regarding Claim 2, JONES teaches wherein: the shaft (PERROT 4) includes a first yoke (PERROT end of 3) at an end of the shaft (PERROT 4) facing the cam (PERROT 3), the cam includes a second yoke (PERROT end of 4) at an end of the cam (PERROT end of 3) facing the shaft, and the first yoke of the shaft and the second yoke of the cam are arranged to intersect each other to form the universal joint.
Claim(s) 3-7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over JONES (7,055,662) in view of PERROT (1,875,759) and further in view of KURZEJA (6,685,569).
Regarding Claim 3, JONES teaches wherein: the power transmission unit further includes a connector disposed between the shaft (PERROT 4) and the cam (PERROT 3) and having a vertical member and a horizontal member, and the vertical member of the universal joint is connected with the first yoke of the shaft and the horizontal member of the universal joint is connected with the second yoke of the cam.
JONES does not teach a spider.
KURZEJA teaches a spider (12).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to change the brake in JONES as modified so it uses the universal joint type in KURZEJA so the universal joint operates smoothly and is more durable.
Regarding Claim 4, JONES as modified teaches wherein: the first yoke (KURZEJA 42) of the shaft includes a first yoke body portion having a first plane facing the second yoke (KURZEJA 40) of the cam, and a pair of first yoke paddles projecting from the first yoke body portion toward the second yoke of the cam, the second yoke of the cam includes a second yoke body portion having a second plane facing the first yoke of the shaft, and a pair of second yoke paddles projecting from the second yoke body portion toward the first yoke of the shaft, and the pair of first yoke paddles and the pair of second yoke paddles are arranged to intersect each other.
Regarding Claim 5, JONES as modified teaches wherein the universal joint (KURZEJA 10) has a first space provided between the second plane of the second yoke and one of the first yoke paddles, a second space provided between the first plane of the first yoke and one of the second yoke paddles, and a third space provided between the first yoke paddles and the second yoke paddles.
Regarding Claim 6, JONES as modified teaches wherein: each of the first yoke paddles includes a first engagement hole (KURZEJA 48) in which the vertical member of the universal joint is inserted, and each of the second yoke paddles includes a second engagement hole (KURZEJA 44) in which the horizontal member of the universal joint is inserted.
Regarding Claim 7, JONES as modified teaches wherein the power transmission unit further includes a fastening member (KURZEJA 100) accommodating a part of the spider therein and disposed between the first yoke paddles and the second yoke paddles.
Claim(s) 8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over JONES (7,055,662) in view of PERROT (1,875,759) and KURZEJA (6,685,569) and further in view of MENOSKY (6,893,350)
Regarding Claim 8, JONES as modified does not teach wherein the fastening member includes a plurality of through-holes such that the part of the spider disposed in the fastening member and ends of the vertical member and the horizontal member of the spider project outward through the through-holes.
MENOSKY teaches wherein the fastening member includes a plurality of through-holes such that the part of the spider disposed in the fastening member and ends of the vertical member and the horizontal member of the spider project outward through the through-holes.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to change the universal joint in JONES as modified so it uses the construction in MENOSKY to dampen vibrations.
Claim(s) 9, 13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over JONES (7,055,662) in view of PERROT (1,875,759) and further in view of KASPER (2018/0058525)
Regarding Claim 9, JONES as modified does not teach wherein the power transmission unit includes a first gear configured to be rotatable coaxially with a rotational axis of the motor, and a second gear rotatably engaged with the first gear and having a rotational axis parallel to the rotational axis of the motor.
KASPER teaches wherein the power transmission unit includes a first gear (ring gear of 140)(Fig. 5) configured to be rotatable coaxially with a rotational axis of the motor, and a second gear (sun gear of 140) rotatably engaged with the first gear and having a rotational axis parallel to the rotational axis of the motor (16).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to change the transmission in JONES as modified so it uses the gear transmission in KASPER so enough torque can be transmitted to the cam using a rotary electric motor.
Regarding Claim 13, JONES as modified does not teach wherein the cam has a substantially S-shaped cross-section.
KASPER teaches wherein the cam (60) has a substantially S-shaped cross-section.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to change the transmission in JONES as modified so it uses the cam shape in KASPER so the actuator provides the desired force levels to the brake shoes for a given angular position of the camshaft.
Claim(s) 10-12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over JONES (7,055,662) in view of PERROT (1,875,759) and KASPER (2018/0058525) and further in view of GUTELIUS (2015/0204402)
Regarding Claim 10, JONES as modified does not teach wherein a diameter of the second gear is greater than a diameter of the first gear.
GUTELIUS teaches wherein a diameter of the second gear (98) is greater than a diameter of the first gear (92).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to change the transmission in JONES as modified so it uses the gear transmission in GUTELIUS so the motor and transmission packaging is a suitable size and shape for a given application.
Regarding Claim 11, JONES as modified does not teach wherein the first gear and the second gear are helical gears.
GUTELIUS teaches wherein the first gear and the second gear are helical gears [0034][0047].
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to change the transmission in JONES as modified so it uses the gear transmission in GUTELIUS so the motor and transmission operates more quietly.
Regarding Claim 12, JONES as modified does not teach wherein the power transmission unit further includes: a sun gear configured to be rotatable coaxially with the second gear, a plurality of planetary gears rotatably engaging an outer circumferential surface of the sun gear, and a ring gear having an inner circumferential surface rotatably engaging the planetary gears and configured to be rotatable coaxially with the sun gear.
GUTELIUS teaches wherein the power transmission unit further includes: a sun gear (86) configured to be rotatable coaxially with the second gear (98), a plurality of planetary gears (88) rotatably engaging an outer circumferential surface of the sun gear (86), and a ring gear (82) having an inner circumferential surface rotatably engaging the planetary gears (88) and configured to be rotatable coaxially with the sun gear (86).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to change the transmission in JONES as modified so it uses the gear transmission in GUTELIUS so the motor and transmission packaging is a suitable size and shape for a given application.
Claim(s) 14-16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over JONES (7,055,662) in view of PERROT (1,875,759) and further in view of KING (3,650,360).
Regarding Claim 14, JONES as modified does not teach wherein: the power transmission unit further includes a pin coupled to the roller, each of the pair of presses includes a pressurizing unit body having a third plane, and pressurizing unit paddles protruding from the pressurizing unit body toward the cam, and each of the pressurizing unit paddles includes a hole or recess in which the pin is inserted.
KING teaches wherein: the power transmission unit further includes a pin (90) coupled to the roller (96), each of the pair of presses (82)(84) includes a pressurizing unit body having a third plane, and pressurizing unit paddles (88) protruding from the pressurizing unit body toward the cam (50), and each of the pressurizing unit paddles includes a hole or recess in which the pin (90) is inserted.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to change the transmission in JONES as modified so it uses the rollers have the construction in KING so roller assembly is easily manufactured.
Regarding Claim 15, JONES as modified teaches wherein an opening is formed at a side of the hole of at least one of the pressurizing unit paddles (88) (KING Col. 2 lines 51-66).
Regarding Claim 16, JONES as modified teaches wherein the roller (KING 96) includes a bearing (KING inner surface of 96).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HENRY Y LIU whose telephone number is (571)270-7018. The examiner can normally be reached 9-5:30 ET.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, ROBERT W HODGE can be reached at 5712722097. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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HENRY Y. LIU
Examiner
Art Unit 3654
/HENRY Y LIU/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3654
Prosecution Insights