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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 07/02/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Regarding claim 1, Applicant argues that “If openings 70 are formed in the overmold, then the connections pads 30 cannot also be positioned within those alleged cavities because Thierry teaches that the alleged body is overmolded onto the connections pads 30.” Examiner disagrees. Thierry discloses “Figures 7 and 8 show views respectively from below and from above the connection structure (10) after overmolding with a plastic material for maintaining the tracks (11-14). The overmolding has openings (70) corresponding to the connection pads (30) and allowing the engagement of the connectors (40).” Thierry explicitly discloses that the connection pads are not overmolded by providing openings to expose the connection pads. FIG. 7 and 8 also discloses openings large enough to expose the connection pads. The first opening can be seen in the view of FIG. 7 and the second opening can be seen in the view of FIG. 8. The two openings create a cavity and the connection pads are disposed within that cavity. Thus, the argument is not persuasive.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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, 5-6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Thierry et al. (WO 2019/053002 A1).
Regarding claim 1, Thierry discloses an electrical motor stator (stator structure) comprising:
a stator assembly (FIG. 1) comprising:
an iron core (1);
a winding (52) which is wound within the iron core (1) and comprises a plurality of wires (copper winding) extending from the iron core (1);
a first insulating seat (see annotation below) mounted to one end surface of the iron core (1);
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a plurality of electrically conductive first electrical contacts (40) fixed to the first insulating seat (FIG. 4), wherein the plurality of wires (copper winding) each extend to the respective first electrical contacts (40) and are electrically connected to the first electrical contacts (40; winding wire passes transversely through the cavity 53, the insertion of the connector 40 into the housing 53 through the slot 56 will cause engagement of the wire in the slot 42);
a contact plate (10; overmold; FIG. 7, 8) positioned relative to the stator assembly and comprising:
an insulated body (overmold);
a plurality of sleeve seats (70) disposed on the body (overmold; FIG. 7, 8) and comprising a first opening (opening in FIG. 7), a second opening (opening in FIG. 8), and a cavity (hole shown in FIG. 7, 8) extending between the first opening and the second opening, wherein the first opening is positioned at a first side of the body (below the overmold) and the second opening is positioned at a second side of the body (above the overmold), with the respective sleeve seats (70) being positioned to correspond to the respective first electrical contacts (40) and, through the first opening, at least partially accommodating the first electrical contacts (40) within the cavity;
a plurality of electrically conductive second electrical contacts (FIG. 2) comprising a first connecting portion (30) and a second connecting portion (21-24), wherein the first connecting portion (30) is disposed within the cavity and in contact with the first electrical contacts (40; FIG. 2) to establish an electrical connection, and the second connecting portion (21-24) is exposed on the second side of the body (above the overmold).
Regarding claim 2/1, Thierry was discussed above in claim 1. Thierry further discloses the body (overmold) and the sleeve seats (70) are integrally injection-molded from an insulating material (overmolding from plastic material), the second electrical contacts are at least partially insert-molded within the body (overmold; FIG. 7, 8), and the first insulating seat is spaced between the winding (52) and the iron core (1; FIG. 1).
Regarding claim 5/1, Thierry was discussed above in claim 1. Thierry further discloses the first electrical contacts (40) comprise an insertion portion and a bent portion (46, 47), wherein the insertion portion is inserted into and fixed in place within the first insulating seat (FIG. 4), and the bent portion (46, 47) extends around the wires (copper winding) and secures the wires (121; winding wire passes transversely through the cavity 53, the insertion of the connector 40 into the housing 53 through the slot 56 will cause engagement of the wire in the slot 42).
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Regarding claim 6/1, Thierry was discussed above in claim 1. Thierry further discloses a second insulating seat (see annotation below) that is mounted to another end surface of the iron core (1); wherein, the second insulating seat is spaced between the winding (52) and the iron core (1).
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Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim 3 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Thierry et al. (WO 2019/053002 A1) in view of Okita et al. (WO 2019/082665 A1).
Regarding claim 3/2, Thierry was discussed above in claim 2. Thierry further discloses at least a portion of the first electrical contacts and second electrical contacts is enveloped by gel or epoxy resin (overmold), wherein the gel or epoxy resin is electrically insulating (plastic material).
Thierry does not disclose the cavity is filled with a gel or epoxy resin, and wherein the second opening is configured such that the first electrical contacts and second electrical contacts can be welded through the second opening prior to filling the gel or epoxy resin.
Okita discloses the cavity is filled with a gel or epoxy resin (35), and wherein the second opening is configured such that the first electrical contacts (43) and coil lead (42; fixed by welding, caulking or the like) can be welded prior to filling the gel or epoxy resin (35).
The welding prior to filling of gel or epoxy resin can be used to modify Thierry so that first and second electrical contacts would be connected and the contact plate’s cavities filled with resin after the connection.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing of the claimed invention to have modified Thierry in view of Okita to disclose the cavity is filled with a gel or epoxy resin, and wherein the second opening is configured such that the first electrical contacts and second electrical contacts can be welded through the second opening prior to filling the gel or epoxy resin, for the advantages of protecting the stator and the connecting elements, while also making sure the stator components are held together.
Claims 4 and 8-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Thierry et al. (WO 2019/053002 A1) in view of Arcon et al. (EP 3989407 A1).
Regarding claim 4/1, Thierry was discussed above in claim 1. Thierry further discloses opposing end surfaces of the iron core (1) are distributed along an axial direction (vertical direction), the first electrical contacts (40) extend from the first insulating seat along the axial direction, and the cavity of the sleeve seats (70) extend along the axial direction.
Thierry does not disclose wherein the electrical motor stator comprises four wires, each corresponding to a U terminal, V terminal, W terminal, and center point of a three-phase alternating current; wherein the wires corresponding to the U terminal, V terminal, and W terminal of the three-phase alternating current are located adjacent to each other.
Arcon discloses wherein the electrical motor stator (15) comprises four wires (FIG. 3 discloses 12 coils and three phases), each corresponding to a U terminal (24a), V terminal (24b), W terminal (24c; total of three different windings), and center point of a three-phase alternating current (windings generates alternating magnetic field); wherein the wires corresponding to the U terminal (24a), V terminal (24b), and W terminal (24c) of the three-phase alternating current are located adjacent to each other (FIG. 3).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing of the claimed invention to have modified Thierry in view of Arcon to disclose wherein the electrical motor stator comprises four wires, each corresponding to a U terminal, V terminal, W terminal, and center point of a three-phase alternating current; wherein the wires corresponding to the U terminal, V terminal, and W terminal of the three-phase alternating current are located adjacent to each other, as Thierry also discloses three phases and altering the number of coil per phase is a simple substitution to obtain predictable results.
Regarding claim 8/1, Thierry was discussed above in claim 1. Thierry does not disclose the contact plate is fixed to the first insulating seat by positioning pins, bolts, screws, hot-riveted structures, or a combination thereof; the contact plate further comprises a plurality of pins or pin holes extending in an axial direction for positioning the electrical motor stator during assembly.
Arcon discloses the contact plate (17) is fixed to the first insulating seat (21) by positioning pins (48), bolts, screws, hot-riveted structures, or a combination thereof; the contact plate (17) further comprises a plurality of pins (17) or pin holes (47) extending in an axial direction (20) for positioning the electrical motor stator (15) during assembly (FIG. 3).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing of the claimed invention to have modified Thierry in view of Arcon to disclose the contact plate is fixed to the first insulating seat by positioning pins, bolts, screws, hot-riveted structures, or a combination thereof; the contact plate further comprises a plurality of pins or pin holes extending in an axial direction for positioning the electrical motor stator during assembly, for the advantages of a simple and reliable assembly of the electrical machine.
Regarding claim 9/1, Thierry was discussed above in claim 1. Thierry does not disclose a compressor comprising:
a chamber having an opening;
an electronic control unit mounted in a space hermetically separated from the chamber;
electrical terminals electrically connected to the electronic control unit and extending into the chamber;
the electrical motor stator according to Claim 1, which is mounted within the chamber through the opening, wherein the second connecting portion of the second electrical contacts is electrically connected to the electrical terminals via a connector.
Arcon discloses a compressor (4) comprising:
a chamber (12) having an opening (lid on the bottom side in FIG. 2);
an electronic control unit (16) mounted in a space hermetically separated from the chamber (12);
electrical terminals (52) electrically connected to the electronic control unit (16) and extending into the chamber (12);
the electrical motor stator (15) according to Claim 1, which is mounted within the chamber (12) through the opening, wherein the second connecting portion of the second electrical contacts (44) is electrically connected to the electrical terminals (52) via a connector (19).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing of the claimed invention to have modified Thierry in view of Arcon to disclose a compressor comprising: a chamber having an opening; an electronic control unit mounted in a space hermetically separated from the chamber; electrical terminals electrically connected to the electronic control unit and extending into the chamber; the electrical motor stator according to Claim 1, which is mounted within the chamber through the opening, wherein the second connecting portion of the second electrical contacts is electrically connected to the electrical terminals via a connector, for the advantages of providing a simplified manufacture and/or simplified assembly, with a reliable electrical connection between the busbar device and the control device.
Regarding claim 10/9, Thierry in view of Arcon was discussed above in claim 9. Arcon further discloses the connector (19) comprises:
a first insertion part (see annotation below) which is inserted into the second connecting portion of the second electrical contacts (44), wherein the electrical motor stator (15) is fitted within the chamber (12) from top to bottom through the opening (top would be on the bottom in FIG. 2, and bottom on the top), and the contact plate (17) is positioned at the bottom (top in FIG. 2) of the electrical motor stator (100);
a second insertion part (see annotation below) that is electrically connected to the first insertion part, with the electrical terminals (52) connected to the second connecting portion (through the connector), thereby establishing an electrical connection between the winding (24) and the electrical control unit (16); wherein the electrical terminals (52) pass through a bottom wall (14) of the chamber (12) and are connected to the electrical control unit (16), with the bottom wall (14) positioned on one side of the chamber (12) and opposite to the opening (FIG. 2).
Claim 7 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Thierry et al. (WO 2019/053002 A1) in view of Chung et al. (US 11,722,020 B2).
Regarding claim 7/1, Thierry was discussed above in claim 1. Thierry further discloses a connection between the first electrical contacts (40) and the wires (52) is established by brazing, resistance welding, or laser welding (embodiment of Figure 5, the connection of the winding wire is proposed according to a weld of the end 91 of said wire to the connectors 40).
Thierry does not disclose a connection between the first electrical contacts and the second electrical contacts is established by brazing, resistance welding, or laser welding.
Chung discloses a connection between the first electrical contacts (27) and the second electrical contacts (42-44) is established by soldering.
Soldering is similar to brazing, in that a filler element is heated to connect two metal objects together. Replacing soldering with brazing would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art as replacing one well known method with another to obtain predictable results.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing of the claimed invention to have modified Thierry in view of Chung to disclose a connection between the first electrical contacts and the second electrical contacts is established by brazing, resistance welding, or laser welding, for the advantages of a robust connection between the first and second electrical contacts, ensuring no disconnection during operation for the electric motor.
Claim 11 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Thierry et al. (WO 2019/053002 A1) in view of Shi et al. (US 12,683,450 B2).
Regarding claim 11/1, Thierry was discussed above in claim 1. Thierry does not disclose the second connecting portion of each respective electrically conductive second electrical contact extends through and exits out from the body along an axial direction.
Shi discloses the second connecting portion (222) of each respective electrically conductive second electrical contact (200) extends through and exits out from the body (140) along an axial direction (FIG. 7).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing of the claimed invention to have modified Thierry in view of Shi to disclose the second connecting portion of each respective electrically conductive second electrical contact extends through and exits out from the body along an axial direction, as there are a finite number of directions the second connecting portion can extend towards, either radial or axial, and it would be obvious to try for one of ordinary skill in the art with a reasonable expectation of success.
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.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MINKI CHANG whose telephone number is (571)270-0521. The examiner can normally be reached 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Seye Iwarere can be reached at (571) 270-5112. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MINKI CHANG/Examiner, Art Unit 2834
/OLUSEYE IWARERE/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2834
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