Drawings
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.83(a) because the protruding portion, groove portion, end surface, bottom surface, side surfaces, interstice, splines, fastening components and second limiting boss recited in claims 23-34 & 37-40 and paragraphs 0091+ are not shown or otherwise indicated in the drawings.
In the reply filed March 2, 2026, applicant argues these features are shown in Figs. 4-5d. However, such features do not appear in those or any drawings. The features aren’t identified by reference characters as required by 37 CR 1.74, and it appears the scale of these figures isn’t large enough to clearly show the features as required by 37 CFR 84(k).
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.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.74 because paragraphs 0040-0070 of the detailed description fail to refer to the drawing by figure number and the features of the invention by reference characters.
In the reply filed March 2, 2026, applicant argues the description is proper in spite of failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.74, but fails to cite where applicant is exempted from complying with the rule.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
Claims 23-34 & 37-40 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 enablement requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to enable one skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and/or use the invention. The limitations of claims 23-34 & 37-40 admit illustration by drawings to facilitate understanding of the invention, but are not shown or otherwise indicated in the drawings. As such, it would not be possible for one of ordinary skill in the art to make or use the claimed invention without undue experimentation. In making this determination the examiner affirms that he has considered the breadth of the claims;
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the nature of the invention;
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the state of the prior art;
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the level of one of ordinary skill;
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the level of predictability in the art;
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the amount of direction provided by the inventor; any
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existence of working examples; and the quantity of experimentation needed to make or use the invention based on the content of the disclosure.
Claims 23-34 & 37-40 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. The features recited in claims 23-34 & 37-40 are not shown or otherwise indicated in the drawings. Without such it is not possible to accurately determine the metes and bounds of the claims.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
Claims 21-22, 30 & 35-36 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Koenig, US 1,653,108. At page 1, line 11 and Figs. 1-3, Koenig discloses an automobile comprising:
a motor/powertrain (11, 14, see also page 1, line 67), a wheel/reducer (25), and an elastic component (27),
wherein the reducer comprises an input shaft (21), the motor comprises an output shaft (10), rotatable (page 1, line 51) around an axis of the output shaft, the input shaft is coaxially coupled to the output shaft, a coupling end of the input shaft comprises a first limiting platform (24) and a first coupling surface (20), and a coupling end of the output shaft comprises a second limiting platform (26) and a second coupling surface (19),
the first coupling surface and the second coupling surface are disposed opposite to each other along a radial direction of the input shaft, and the first coupling surface is in contact with the second coupling surface, so that the output shaft is in a transmission connection with the input shaft,
the first limiting platform and the second limiting platform are disposed opposite to each other along an axial direction of the input shaft, and
the elastic component is fastened between and in direct contact with the first limiting platform and the second limiting platform along the axial direction of the input shaft,
wherein two ends of the elastic component respectively abut against the first limiting platform and the second limiting platform (col. 2, lines 19-22), so that the elastic component is in a compressed state, and
wherein the compressed state of the elastic component comprises a first compressed state and a second compressed state, the input shaft of the reducer and the output shaft of the motor move relative (page 1, lines 85-97 and page 2, lines 26-30) to each other along the axial direction of the input shaft, so that the elastic component is switched from the first compressed state to the second compressed state, and a second length of the elastic component in the second compressed state is greater than or less than a first length of the elastic component in the first compressed state,
wherein along the radial direction of the input shaft, the elastic component is disposed in an interstice (see “a portion” at page 1, line 92) with the first limiting platform.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 Greg Binda whose telephone number is (571)272-7077. The examiner can normally be reached 9:30-5:30 et.
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, Matthew Troutman can be reached at 571-270-3654. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Greg Binda/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3679