CTFR 18/432,540 CTFR 90461 .DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia 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 in response to papers filed on 3/16/2026. Amendments made to the claims and the Applicant's remarks have been entered and considered. Claims 1-3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11-13, 15, 16, 20 have been amended. Claims 18-19 are cancelled. Claims 21-22 are newly added. Response to Arguments 07-37 AIA Applicant's arguments filed 3/16/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Regarding the amendment to claim 1, Lan shows four sets of stator laminations each including two laminations, all laminations being offset from each other by the same amount which anticipates the Applicant’s amended claim 1. Regarding the amendment to claim 11, the amended claim 11 does not include the features of claim 19 that were indicated to be allowable . Claim Objections 07-29-01 AIA Claim s 1, 3, 8, 11, 22 are objected to because of the following informalities: The claims should be amended as follows: 1. A stator for an electric machine comprising: a plurality of stator laminations defining a stator core having an axial axis, the plurality of stator laminations including a circumference, a radius, and a coolant passage extending along the axial axis, and wherein the plurality of stator laminations includes a first set of stator laminations defining a first stator lamination group having a first number of stator laminations, a second set of stator laminations defining a second stator lamination group having a second number of stator laminations, a third stator set of laminations defines a third stator lamination group having a third number of stator laminations, and a fourth set of stator laminations defining a fourth stator lamination group having a fourth number of stator laminations, wherein the first set of stator laminations includes a first web and a first plurality of openings extending through the first web spaced about the circumference, the first plurality of openings defining a first portion of the coolant passage, wherein the second set of stator laminations includes a second web and a second plurality of openings extending through the second web spaced about the circumference, the second plurality of openings defining a second portion of the coolant passage, and wherein the first set of stator laminations is stacked upon the second set of stator laminations with each of the first plurality of openings being offset relative to corresponding ones of the second plurality of openings along one of the circumference and the radius such that in each of the first plurality of openings, a portion of the second web and a portion of the corresponding one of the second plurality of openings are exposed, wherein the first set of stator laminations includes a plurality of subsets, the second set of stator laminations includes a plurality of subsets, and wherein the subsets of the first set and the subsets of the second set are alternated in a stack wherein the first . 3. The stator according to claim 2, wherein the third set of stator laminations is stacked upon the second set of stator lamination s with each of the third plurality of openings being offset relative to corresponding ones of the second plurality of openings along one of the circumference and the radius such that in each of the third plurality of openings, a portion of the second web and a portion of the corresponding one of the first plurality of openings and the second plurality of openings are exposed. 8. The stator according to claim 5, wherein the first set of stator laminations defines a first stator lamination group including a first number of stator laminations, the second set of stator laminations defines a second stator lamination group including a second number of stator laminations, the third set [[if]] of stator laminations defines a third stator lamination group including a third number of stator laminations, and the fourth set of stator laminations defines a fourth stator lamination group including a fourth number of stator laminations. 11. A vehicle comprising: a body including a passenger compartment; a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) supported by the body; and an electric drive unit arranged in the body and operatively connected to the RESS, the electric drive unit including: a housing including an inner surface; a stator fixedly mounted to the inner surface; and a rotor rotatably supported within the stator, the stator comprising: a plurality of stator laminations defining a stator core having an axial axis, the plurality of stator laminations including a circumference, a radius, and a coolant passage extending along the axial axis, and wherein the plurality of stator laminations includes a first set of stator laminations defining a first stator lamination group including a first number of stator laminations, a second set of stator laminations defining a second stator lamination group including a second number of stator laminations, a third set of stator laminations defines a third stator lamination group including a third number of stator laminations, and a fourth set of stator laminations defining a fourth stator lamination group including a fourth number of stator lamination s , wherein the first set of stator laminations includes a first web and a first plurality of openings extending through the first web spaced about the circumference, the first plurality of openings defining a first portion of the coolant passage, wherein the second set of stator laminations includes including a second web and a second plurality of openings extending through the second web spaced about the circumference, the second plurality of openings defining a second portion of the coolant passage, and wherein the first set of stator laminations is stacked upon the second set of stator laminations in an alternating fashion such that the first set of stator laminations includes a plurality of subsets, the second set of stator laminations includes a plurality of subsets, and wherein the subsets of the first set and the subsets of the second set are alternated in a stack wherein the first with each of the first plurality of openings being offset relative to corresponding ones of the second plurality of openings along one of the circumference and the radius such that in each of the first plurality of openings, a portion of the second web and a portion of the corresponding one of the second plurality of openings are exposed. 22. The vehicle of claim [[21]] 12 , wherein each of the third plurality of openings being offset relative to corresponding ones of the second plurality of openings by an angle of up to about +-10° . Appropriate correction is required. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 07-06 AIA 15-10-15 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. 07-07-aia AIA 07-07 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 – 07-08-aia AIA (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. 07-12-aia AIA (a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. 07-15 AIA Claim (s) 1-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102( a)(1 ) as being anticipated by Lan (CN 116937841 A) . As to claim 1, Lan shows (FIG. 2a, 8a-8d) A stator 10 for an electric machine 100 comprising: a plurality of stator laminations 1 defining a stator core 10 having an axial axis, the plurality of stator laminations 1 including a circumference, a radius, and a coolant passage 103 extending along the axial axis, and wherein the plurality of stator laminations includes a first set of stator laminations 1 defining a first stator lamination group having a first number of stator laminations, a second set of stator laminations 1 defining a second stator lamination group having a second number of stator laminations, a third stator set of laminations defines a third stator lamination group having a third number of stator laminations, and a fourth set of stator laminations defining a fourth stator lamination group having a fourth number of stator laminations, wherein the first set of stator laminations 1a includes a first web and a first plurality of openings 131a extending through the first web spaced about the circumference, the first plurality of openings 131a defining a first portion of the coolant passage 103, wherein the second set of stator laminations 1b includes a second web and a second plurality of openings 131b extending through the second web spaced about the circumference, the second plurality of openings 131b defining a second portion of the coolant passage 103, and wherein the first set of stator laminations 1a is stacked upon the second set of stator laminations 1b with each of the first plurality of openings 131a being offset relative to corresponding ones of the second plurality of openings 131b along one of the circumference and the radius such that in each of the first plurality of openings 131a, a portion of the second web and a portion of the corresponding one of the second plurality of openings 131b are exposed, wherein the first set of laminations 1a includes a plurality of subsets, the second set of laminations ab includes a plurality of subsets, and wherein the subsets of the first set and the subsets of the second set are alternated in a stack (para [0063], [0076] to [0078]). As to claim 2/1, Lan further shows (FIG. 8d): PNG media_image1.png 583 656 media_image1.png Greyscale wherein the plurality of stator laminations 1 includes a third set of stator laminations 1c, includes a third web and a third plurality of openings 131c extending through the third web spaced about the circumference, the third plurality of openings 131c defining a third portion of the coolant passage 103. As to claim 3/2/1, Lan further shows (FIG. 8d above) wherein the third set of stator laminations 1c is stacked upon the second stator lamination 1b with each of the third plurality of openings 131c being offset relative to corresponding ones of the second plurality of openings 131b along one of the circumference and the radius such that in each of the third plurality of openings 131c, a portion of the second web and a portion of the corresponding one of the first plurality of openings 131a and the second plurality of openings 131b are exposed. As to claim 4/3/2/1, Lan further shows (FIG. 8d above) wherein each of the third plurality of openings 131c are substantially aligned with corresponding ones of the first plurality of openings 131a (the openings 131a, 131c are substantially aligned to form the continuous channel 103). As to claim 5/4/3/2/1, Lan further shows (FIG. 8d above) wherein the fourth set of stator laminations 131d, includes a fourth web and a fourth plurality of openings 131d extending through the fourth web spaced about the circumference, the fourth plurality of openings 131d defining a fourth portion of the coolant passage 103. As to claim 6/5/4/3/2/1, Lan further shows (FIG. 8d above) wherein the fourth set of stator laminations 1d is stacked upon the third set of stator laminations 1c with each of the fourth plurality of openings 131d being offset relative to corresponding ones of the third plurality of openings 131c along one of the circumference and the radius such that in each of the fourth plurality of openings 131d, a portion of the third web and a portion of the corresponding one of the third plurality of openings 131c, the first plurality of openings 131a and the second plurality of openings 131b are exposed. As to claim 7/6/5/4/3/2/1, Lan further shows (FIG. 8d above) wherein each of the fourth plurality of openings 131d are substantially aligned with corresponding ones of the second plurality of openings 131b (the openings 131b, 131d are substantially aligned to form the continuous channel 103). As to claim 8/5/4/3/2/1, Lan further shows (FIG. 8d above) wherein the first set of stator laminations 1a defines a first stator lamination group including a first number of stator laminations, the second set of stator laminations 1b defines a second stator lamination group including a second number of stator laminations, the third set of stator laminations 1c defines a third stator lamination group including a third number of stator laminations, and the fourth set of stator laminations 1d defines a fourth stator lamination group including a fourth number of stator laminations (each group has a single lamination 1) . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 07-06 AIA 15-10-15 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. 07-20-aia AIA 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. 07-21-aia AIA Claim (s) 11-17, 20-22 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lan (CN 116937841 A) in view of Keum et al. (US 2023/0011641 A1, hereinafter Keum) . As to claim 11, Lan shows (FIG. 1, 2a, 8a-8d) A vehicle comprising: PNG media_image2.png 478 593 media_image2.png Greyscale a body B including a passenger compartment (compartment is implied); and an electric drive unit 1000 arranged in the body and, the electric drive unit 1000 including: a housing 50 including an inner surface; a stator 10 fixedly mounted to the inner surface; and a rotor 30 rotatably supported within the stator 10, the stator 10 comprising: a plurality of stator laminations 1 defining a stator core 10 having an axial axis, the plurality of stator laminations 1 including a circumference, a radius, and a coolant passage 103 extending along the axial axis, and wherein the plurality of stator laminations includes a first set of stator laminations 1 defining a first stator lamination group having a first number of stator laminations, a second set of stator laminations 1 defining a second stator lamination group having a second number of stator laminations, a third stator set of laminations defines a third stator lamination group having a third number of stator laminations, and a fourth set of stator laminations defining a fourth stator lamination group having a fourth number of stator laminations, wherein the first set of stator laminations 1a includes a first web and a first plurality of openings 131a extending through the first web spaced about the circumference, the first plurality of openings 131a defining a first portion of the coolant passage 103, wherein the second set of stator laminations 1b includes a second web and a second plurality of openings 131b extending through the second web spaced about the circumference, the second plurality of openings 131b defining a second portion of the coolant passage 103, and wherein the first set of stator laminations 1a is stacked upon the second set of stator laminations 1b in an alternating fashion such that the first set of laminations includes a plurality of subsets, the second set of laminations includes a plurality of subsets, and wherein the subsets of the first set and the subsets of the second set are alternated in a stack with each of the first plurality of openings 131a being offset relative to corresponding ones of the second plurality of openings 131b along one of the circumference and the radius such that in each of the first plurality of openings 131a, a portion of the second web and a portion of the corresponding one of the second plurality of openings 131b are exposed (para [0063], [0076] to [0078]). Lan does not show a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) supported by the body, and an electric drive unit operatively connected to the RESS. Keum shows a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) supported by the body, and an electric drive unit operatively connected to the RESS (para [0003]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the vehicle of Lan to have the plurality of brushes 46,48 disposed on the outer shell 32 as taught by Keum, for the advantageous benefit providing vehicle propulsion as taught by Keum (para [0003]). As to claim 12/11, Lan further shows (FIG. 8d above) wherein the third set of stator laminations 1c, includes a third web and a third plurality of openings 131c extending through the third web spaced about the circumference, the third plurality of openings 131c defining a third portion of the coolant passage 103. As to claim 13/12/11, Lan further shows (FIG. 8d above) wherein the third set of stator laminations 1c is stacked upon the second set of stator laminations 1b with each of the third plurality of openings 131c being offset relative to corresponding ones of the second plurality of openings 131b along one of the circumference and the radius such that in each of the third plurality of openings 131c, a portion of the second web and a portion of the corresponding one of the first plurality of openings 131a and the second plurality of openings 131b are exposed. As to claim 14/13/12/11, Lan further shows (FIG. 8d above) wherein each of the third plurality of openings 131c are substantially aligned with corresponding ones of the first plurality of openings 131a (the openings 131a, 131c are substantially aligned to form the continuous channel 103). As to claim 15/14/13/12/11, Lan further shows (FIG. 8d above) wherein the fourth set of stator laminations 131d, includes a fourth web and a fourth plurality of openings 131d extending through the fourth web spaced about the circumference, the fourth plurality of openings 131d defining a fourth portion of the coolant passage 103. As to claim 16/15/14/13/12/11, Lan further shows (FIG. 8d above) wherein the fourth set of stator laminations 1d is stacked upon the third set of stator laminations 1c with each of the fourth plurality of openings 131d being offset relative to corresponding ones of the third plurality of openings 131c along one of the circumference and the radius such that in each of the fourth plurality of openings 131d, a portion of the third web and a portion of the corresponding one of the third plurality of openings 131c, the first plurality of openings 131a and the second plurality of openings 131b are exposed. As to claim 17/16/15/14/13/12/11, Lan further shows (FIG. 8d above) wherein each of the fourth plurality of openings 131d are substantially aligned with corresponding ones of the second plurality of openings 131b (the openings 131b, 131d are substantially aligned to form the continuous channel 103). As to claim 20/11, Lan further shows (FIG. 8d above) the stator includes a first axial end, a second axial end, and a central portion having a coolant inlet fluidically connected to the coolant passage, the first stator lamination group being arranged at the coolant inlet, the second stator lamination group being arranged directly adjacent to the first stator lamination group, the third stator lamination group being arranged directly adjacent the second stator lamination group, and the fourth stator lamination group being arranged at one of the first axial end and the second axial end (the laminations 1 are identical and have the same offset from axial end to axial end). As to claim 21/11, Lan further shows (FIG. 8d above) each of the first plurality of openings is offset relative to corresponding ones of the second plurality of openings by an angle of up to about 10° (less than 10 degrees). As to claim 22/21/11, Lan further shows (FIG. 8d above) each of the third plurality of openings is offset relative to corresponding ones of the second plurality of openings by an angle of up to about 10° (less than 10 degrees) . Allowable Subject Matter 12-151-07 AIA 07-97 12-51-07 Claim s 9, 10 are allowed. The prior art does not suggest these arrangements of laminations. Conclusion 07-40 AIA 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 ROBERT E MATES whose telephone number is (571)270-5293. The examiner can normally be reached M to F 12:00pm to 8pm. 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, TULSIDAS PATEL can be reached at (571)272-2098. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /ROBERT E MATES/Examiner, Art Unit 2834 /TULSIDAS C PATEL/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2834 Application/Control Number: 18/432,540 Page 2 Art Unit: 2834 Application/Control Number: 18/432,540 Page 3 Art Unit: 2834 Application/Control Number: 18/432,540 Page 4 Art Unit: 2834 Application/Control Number: 18/432,540 Page 5 Art Unit: 2834 Application/Control Number: 18/432,540 Page 6 Art Unit: 2834 Application/Control Number: 18/432,540 Page 7 Art Unit: 2834 Application/Control Number: 18/432,540 Page 8 Art Unit: 2834 Application/Control Number: 18/432,540 Page 9 Art Unit: 2834 Application/Control Number: 18/432,540 Page 10 Art Unit: 2834 Application/Control Number: 18/432,540 Page 11 Art Unit: 2834 Application/Control Number: 18/432,540 Page 12 Art Unit: 2834
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