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 Objections
Claim 2 is objected to because of the following informalities: the phrase “to which any rubber is not fixed” is confusing, and should be amended to read -- to which no rubber is fixed --. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 4 is objected to because of the following informalities: the word “thickened” should be amended to read -- thicker --. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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.
Claims 1-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hosoda et al. (JP 2021032365 A) in view of Fujiwara et al. (US 5,887,844). The examiner notes that US 2022/0282764 is reference herein as an English equivalent of the Japanese reference.
In Re claim 1, Hosoda et al. disclose a liquid-filled vibration damping device (1), comprising: an inner axial member (12a); an intermediate sleeve (13) made of synthetic resin (par. 0029); a main rubber elastic body (14); an outer tubular member (11); a pair of liquid chambers (15); an orifice passage (16); an outer flange (see 23 and 32) formed at the axial end of the intermediate sleeve; an outer circumference rubber (23, 26) fixed to the outer circumferential surface of the intermediate sleeve and press-fit to the inner surface of the outer sleeve (Abstract); and an orifice groove formed in the outer circumference rubber and covered by the outer tubular member (see 16 in fig. 2). Hosoda et al. fail to disclose that the intermediate sleeve is formed of two pieces.
Fujiwara et al. is related to the art of fluid-filled vibration dampers. Fujiwara et al. teach forming an intermediate sleeve of two pieces separated in the circumferential direction (see fig. 10 and 17). This assembly allows for easier and more precise manufacturing, thus decreasing the production costs of the device. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the intermediate sleeve of Hosoda et al. to be formed of two pieces, as taught by Fujiwara et al., to allow for easier and more precise manufacturing, thus decreasing the production costs of the device. The examiner additionally notes that it has been held that wherein the general conditions of a claim are taught in the prior art, constructing a formerly integral structure in various elements involves only routine skill in the art (MPEP2144.04).
In Re claim 2, Hosoda et al. disclose that the rubber (29) is pressed against the outer tubular member (11).
In Re claim 3, with reference to fig. 5 of Hosoda et al., see stopper rubber (19) and contact rubber (23).
In Re claim 4, see thicker central portion of 13 in fig. 1 of Hosoda et al..
In Re claims 5 and 6, see two windows (13a) of Hosoda et al.. The examiner points out that the orifice groove (16) extends to the windows (see fig. 3).
In Re claim 7, as best understood this claim appears to describe a necessary function of the assembly of the two intermediate sleeve members. In the damping device above, as modified, the two intermediate sleeve members are necessarily brought together and a distance therebetween decreased for assembly and insertion into the outer tubular member.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 8 is 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.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
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/THOMAS W IRVIN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3616