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 .
Election/Restrictions
Claims 14 and 21 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected species, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 6/29/2026.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
(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.
Claim(s) 11-13 and 15-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Flaim et al (US. 20080019766).
Flaim discloses a device for compensating for tolerances between two components to be connected to one another, comprising a hollow cylindrical base element (e.g. 40) and a hollow cylindrical compensating element (e.g. 46) which can be brought or is brought into threaded engagement with the base element (e.g. 44 and 54), wherein the base element and the compensating element are set up such that they can be moved relative to one another between an initial position and a compensating position and can optionally be pivoted with one another (e.g. intended use but the device of Flaim is capable of this, see MPEP 2113-2114 regarding intended use).
Regarding claim 12: Wherein the base element or the compensating element is provided on an outer circumference at least in portions with a convexly formed segment which is designed such that the base element or the compensating element is pivotably mountable or mounted on one of the components (e.g. convex of 40).
Regarding claim 13: Wherein the convexly formed segment is integrally formed on the outer circumference of the base element or on the outer circumference of the compensating element (e.g. see figures).
Regarding claim 15: Wherein at least one bearing element (e.g. 18) is provided by which the base element or the compensating element can be arranged or is arranged in a sliding manner on one of the components (e.g. again the components are intended use and the device of Flaim is capable of this, see MPEP 2113-2114 regarding intended use).
Regarding claim 16: Wherein the bearing element has at least one recess with a concave inner shape (e.g. concave inner shape receiving the convex shape of 40) for pivotable connection to the base element or the compensating element (e.g. see figures).
Claim(s) 11-13 and 15-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Alstad (US. 20230138722).
Alstad discloses a device for compensating for tolerances between two components to be connected to one another, comprising a hollow cylindrical base element (e.g. 120) and a hollow cylindrical compensating element (e.g. 114) which can be brought or is brought into threaded engagement with the base element (e.g. 134 and inner thread on 120), wherein the base element and the compensating element are set up such that they can be moved relative to one another between an initial position and a compensating position and can optionally be pivoted with one another (e.g. intended use but the device of Alstad is capable of this, see MPEP 2113-2114 regarding intended use).
Regarding claim 12: Wherein the base element or the compensating element is provided on an outer circumference at least in portions with a convexly formed segment which is designed such that the base element or the compensating element is pivotably mountable or mounted on one of the components (e.g. convex 128).
Regarding claim 13: Wherein the convexly formed segment is integrally formed on the outer circumference of the base element or on the outer circumference of the compensating element (e.g. see figures).
Regarding claim 15: Wherein at least one bearing element (e.g. 122) is provided by which the base element or the compensating element can be arranged or is arranged in a sliding manner on one of the components (e.g. again the components are intended use and the device of Alstad is capable of this, see MPEP 2113-2114 regarding intended use).
Regarding claim 16: Wherein the bearing element has at least one recess with a concave inner shape (e.g. concave inner surface of 122) for pivotable connection to the base element or the compensating element (e.g. see figures).
Regarding claim 17: Wherein at least one connection element (e.g. 116) is provided which can be inserted through the base element and the compensating element in order to connect the two components (e.g. again the components are intended use and the device of Alstad is capable of this, see MPEP 2113-2114 regarding intended use).
Claim(s) 11, 15 and 17-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Yi et al (CN118066207A).
Yi discloses a device for compensating for tolerances between two components to be connected to one another, comprising a hollow cylindrical base element (e.g. 220) and a hollow cylindrical compensating element (e.g. 120) which can be brought or is brought into threaded engagement with the base element (e.g. see figure 2B and 2C), wherein the base element and the compensating element are set up such that they can be moved relative to one another between an initial position and a compensating position and can optionally be pivoted with one another (e.g. intended use but the device of Yi is capable of this, see MPEP 2113-2114 regarding intended use).
Regarding claim 15: Wherein at least one bearing element (e.g. 130) is provided by which the base element or the compensating element can be arranged or is arranged in a sliding manner on one of the components (e.g. again the components are intended use and the device of Yi is capable of this, see MPEP 2113-2114 regarding intended use).
Regarding claim 17: Wherein at least one connection element (e.g. 110) is provided which can be inserted through the base element and the compensating element in order to connect the two components (e.g. again the components are intended use and the device of Yi is capable of this, see MPEP 2113-2114 regarding intended use).
Regarding claim 18: Wherein an outer circumference of the base element or an outer circumference of the compensating element is provided with at least one securing element which is designed to hold the base element or the compensating element on one of the components in a non-rotatable manner (e.g. see 223 and recess receiving 223 in 130).
Regarding claim 19: Wherein the at least one securing element protrudes radially from the outer shape or from the outer circumference of the base element or the compensating element (e.g. 223).
Regarding claim 20: Wherein the bearing element has at least one counter- securing element which is arranged on an inner shape of the bearing element and is designed to
come into engagement with the securing element (see 223 that is received between arms of 130).
Claim(s) 11-13 and 15-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Dickinson et al (GB1010013A).
Dickinson discloses a device for compensating for tolerances between two components to be connected to one another, comprising a hollow cylindrical base element (e.g. 17) and a hollow cylindrical compensating element (e.g. 23) which can be brought or is brought into threaded engagement with the base element (e.g. see figures 1-2, threads of 23 interacting with threads of 17), wherein the base element and the compensating element are set up such that they can be moved relative to one another between an initial position and a compensating position and can optionally be pivoted with one another (e.g. intended use but the device of Dickinson is capable of this, see MPEP 2113-2114 regarding intended use).
Regarding claim 12: Wherein the base element or the compensating element is provided on an outer circumference at least in portions with a convexly formed segment which is designed such that the base element or the compensating element is pivotably mountable or mounted on one of the components (e.g. convex of 17).
Regarding claim 13: Wherein the convexly formed segment is integrally formed on the outer circumference of the base element or on the outer circumference of the compensating element (e.g. see figures).
Regarding claim 15: Wherein at least one bearing element (e.g. 18) is provided by which the base element or the compensating element can be arranged or is arranged in a sliding manner on one of the components (e.g. again the components are intended use and the device of Dickinson is capable of this, see MPEP 2113-2114 regarding intended use).
Regarding claim 16: Wherein the bearing element has at least one recess with a concave inner shape (e.g. concave inner shape of 18 receiving the convex outer shape of 17) for pivotable connection to the base element or the compensating element (e.g. see figures).
Regarding claim 17: Wherein at least one connection element (e.g. 15) is provided which can be inserted through the base element and the compensating element in order to connect the two components (e.g. again the components are intended use and the device of Dickinson is capable of this, see MPEP 2113-2114 regarding intended use).
Regarding claim 18: Wherein an outer circumference of the base element or an outer circumference of the compensating element is provided with at least one securing element (e.g. 20) which is designed to hold the base element or the compensating element on one of the components in a non-rotatable manner (e.g. see description of 20 and 21).
Regarding claim 19: Wherein the at least one securing element protrudes radially from the outer shape or from the outer circumference of the base element or the compensating element (e.g. 20).
Regarding claim 20: Wherein the bearing element has at least one counter- securing element which is arranged on an inner shape of the bearing element and is designed to
come into engagement with the securing element (e.g. see description of 20 and 21).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Examiner has provided multiple rejection above showing that the claims are very broad and are not patentable. Also examiner has provided many references that read on the claims (see form 892).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to VISHAL A PATEL whose telephone number is (571)272-7060. The examiner can normally be reached 7:00 am to 4:00pm.
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/VISHAL A PATEL/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3675
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