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 .
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.
Claim(s) 1, 2, 6-10, 15, and 18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Daikoku et al (US 2011/0244738).
As to claim 1, Daikoku et al discloses a marine drive comprising:
a supporting frame (generally at 62, i.e. outer casing of batteries 62a,62b),
an electric motor 11 configured to power a propulsor 35 for generating a thrust force in water,
an electrical power unit 62a,62b for the electric motor, the electrical power unit being coupled to the supporting frame, wherein operation of the electrical power unit generates heat that is transferred to the supporting frame, and
a cowling 68 that encloses the electrical power unit and covers a first portion of the
supporting frame, wherein a second portion of the supporting frame that is different than the first portion of the supporting frame is exposed to atmosphere outside the cowling, and further wherein the supporting frame and cowling are configured so that the second portion of the supporting frame functions as a heat exchanger that transfers the heat from the electrical power unit to atmosphere.
As to claim 2, Daikoku et al discloses wherein the marine drive is an outboard motor 100.
As to claim 6, Daikoku et al discloses wherein the electrical power unit comprises an inverter (see para [0073]).
As to claim 7, Daikoku et al discloses wherein the supporting frame is a monolithic component (generally at 62, i.e. outer casing of batteries 62a,62b, each casing being monolithic).
As to claim 8, Daikoku et al discloses wherein the supporting frame comprises a body defining the first portion and the second portion (generally at 62, i.e. outer casing of batteries 62a,62b, each casing being monolithic and having first and second portions).
As to claim 9, Daikoku et al discloses wherein the body extends around a perimeter of the electrical power unit (the casing/body extends around the perimeter of the battery/electrical power unit 62a,62b).
As to claim 10, Daikoku et al discloses wherein the body comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall, and a rear wall, and further wherein the second portion is located along the rear wall. (the casing/body extends around the perimeter of the battery/electrical power unit 62a,62b and has top wall, bottom wall, front wall, and rear wall).
As to claim 15, Daikoku et al discloses wherein the electrical power unit 62a,62b is adjacent to an interior surface of the second portion of the supporting frame (generally at 62, i.e. outer casing of batteries 62a,62b).
As to claim 18, Daikoku et al discloses wherein the electrical power unit 62a,62b comprises a power entry module 65 configured to control a frequency of power supplied to the electric motor.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3-5, 11-14, 16,17, 19, and 20 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
As to claim 3, the prior art of record, such as Daikoku et al, fails to show or suggest the marine drive wherein the supporting frame comprises a body, a support leg configured to support a propulsor housing for the propulsor, and a steering arm for steering of the marine drive relative to a marine vessel.
As to claim 11, the prior art of record, such as Daikoku et al, fails to show or suggest the marine drive wherein the supporting frame comprises a spine located along the rear wall.
As to claim 16, the prior art of record, such as Daikoku et al, fails to show or suggest further comprising a rib on an opposite, exterior surface of the second portion of the supporting frame, the rib being configured to promote heat transfer.
As to claim 19, the prior art of record, such as Daikoku et al, fails to show or suggest wherein the cowling comprises a top cowl and wherein the supporting frame comprises a spine located along a rear of the top cowl.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FREDERICK L LAGMAN whose telephone number is (571)272-7043. The examiner can normally be reached Tuesday-Friday 8am-6:00pm.
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/FREDERICK L LAGMAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3678
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