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
Applicant’s election without traverse of invention group I, claims 1-9, in the reply filed on 5/21/2026 is acknowledged.
Claims 10-12 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention group II, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 5/21/2026.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-9 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.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the two portions or the one portion of the first radially outer portion and the first radially inner portion that is hardened" in lines 6-7. Claim 1 further recites the limitation “the temperature of the region of the second radial surface” in line 10. Claim 1 further recites the limitation “the temperature of the whole surface of the first radial surface” in line 13 and “the region of the second radial surface” in line 14. There are insufficient antecedent bases for these limitations in the claim.
The term “low” in “low-temperature temping treatment” in claim 1 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “low” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention.
Claim 2 recites the limitations "the first step" in line 2 and “the second step” in line 3. There are insufficient antecedent bases for these limitations in the claim.
Claim 3 recites the limitation "the second step" in lines 2-3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 5 recites the limitation "the temperature for the low-temperature tempering treatment of step (iii)" in lines 2-3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 6 recites the limitation "the sprayed liquid" in lines 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 7 recites the limitation "the material" in line 1. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 8 recites the limitation "the material" in line 1. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 9 recites the limitation "the two portions or the one portion of the first radially outer portion and the first radially inner portion that is hardened" in lines 6-7. Claim 8 recites the limitation "the first step" in line 7. Claim 1 further recites the limitation “the temperature of the region of the second radial surface” in line 10. Claim 1 further recites the limitation “the temperature of the whole surface of the first radial surface” in line 13 and “the region of the second radial surface” in line 14. There are insufficient antecedent bases for these limitations in the claim.
Claim 4 is also rejected since it depends on vague and indefinite claim 2.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-9 are free of prior art rejection.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
The closest prior art is Yoshida, et al. US 2016/0108961(Yoshida). Yoshida teaches a method of forming a bearing ring, wherein the bearing ring is induction heated and cooled by water[0067-0068], and low-temperature tempering. Yoshida further teaches the inner and outer hardening portion and the intermediate portion, wherein the hardness of the inner portion is 650-710HV[0042](i.e. 55-59HRC) and outer portion having a hardness of 740-800HV[0043](i.e. 60-62HRC) and an intermediate portion having an hardness of 700-800HV[59-62HRC]. However, Yoshida does not teach or fairly suggest, either alone or in combination the claimed method for heat treating a bearing ring comprising the claimed steps (i), (ii) and (iii) having the claimed first induction heat treatment and liquid spraying treatment on a first radially outer and/or inner portions and claimed second induction heat treatment and liquid spraying treatment at the claimed temperatures and the claimed step(iii) of a lower-temperature tempering treatment.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LOIS L ZHENG whose telephone number is (571)272-1248. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 8:15-4:45.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Keith Hendricks can be reached at 571-272-1401. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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LOIS ZHENG
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1733
/LOIS L ZHENG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1733
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