DETAILED ACTION
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 1, 8, 11, and 20 objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 1, lines 2-3 recites the limitation “a first end portion a second end portion” which should be changed to “a first end portion and a second end portion”.
Claim 1, line 3 recites the limitation “a second end portion opposite the first end portion” which should be changed to “a second end portion opposite to the first end portion”.
Claim 8, line 1 recites “the steering shaft of assembly claim 7” which should be changed to “the steering shaft assembly of claim 7”.
Claim 11, line 4, recites the limitation “a steering shaft” which should be changed to “the steering shaft”.
Claim 20, lines 2-3 recites the limitation “said blocking segment through and radially outwardly from said slot” which should be changed to “said blocking segment extending through and radially outwardly from said slot”.
Appropriate correction is required.
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.
Claims 3, 13, and 19-20 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 3, line 1 recites the limitation "said slot". There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 13, line 1 recites the limitation "said slot". There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 19, line 7 recites the limitation “the main segment”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 19, lines 7-8 recites the limitation “the counter bore”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 19, line 8 recites the limitation “the central opening”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 20 is further rejected under 112(b) as being dependent on the rejected claim above.
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 1-5 and 7-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Tsutsui JP 2014141992 A in view of Tinnin et al. US 20160016603 A1. (page/line numbering used for foreign references below corresponds to the machine-translation preceding the original patent, as attached to the present Office Action – note page numbers of the translation are marked as TP-1, TP-2, etc.).
Regarding independent claim 1, Tsutsui discloses [a steering shaft assembly 1, comprising:
a steering shaft 3 extending along a central longitudinal axis between a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion,] (Fig. 1; Page 2, lines 25-28) [the first end portion terminating at a first end and the second end portion terminating at a second end;] (Fig. 1)
[a clamp yoke 62 having a through bore 620 sized for receipt of the first end portion of the steering shaft, the clamp yoke having a fastener opening 62a;] (Fig. 4; Page 3, lines 38-42, Page 4, lines 1-4) and
[a flag device 9 having a body 91, 92 capable of being disposed in a pocket and a flag 93 extending radially outwardly from the body,] (Fig. 6; Page 4, lines 39-44) [the flag configured to obstruct the fastener opening in the clamp yoke until the steering shaft is disposed in the through bore to a fully assembled position.] (Fig. 6; Page 5, lines 39-43; Page 6, lines 1-4)
Tsutsui does not disclose a pocket extending axially into the first end.
Tinnin et al. teaches [a pocket extending axially into the first end;] (Fig. 3-4) [a slot 72 extending radially outwardly from said recessed pocket, said flag extending through and radially outwardly from said slot;] (Fig. 2-4; Paragraph 0020-0021) [wherein said slot has opposite sidewalls configured to confront said flag to prevent said flag device from rotating relative to said steering shaft about said central longitudinal axis;] (Fig. 2-4; Paragraph 0020-0021) [wherein said pocket extends along said central longitudinal axis;] (Fig. 3-4) [wherein said pocket is generally cylindrical;] (Fig. 3-4) [wherein said flag device closes off said pocket against ingress of water.] (Fig 3-4; As shown in Fig. 3-4, Tinnin et al. illustrates wherein a base shaft 76 extending from a yoke 36 closes off said pocket of the steering column shaft 12. Therefore, naturally preventing water from getting inside of the steering shaft.)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to alternatively use the axially extending pocket of Tinnin et al. with the steering shaft assembly of Tsutsui with a reasonable expectation of success because it would allow for internal placement and retention of the flag device within the steering shaft, thus improving structural integration and enabling controlled extension of the flag for proper interaction with the fastener opening.
Regarding claim 2, Tsutsui, as modified, already discloses all of the claimed limitations, including the slot discussed in the rejection of claim 1 above.
Regarding claim 3, Tsutsui, as modified, already discloses all of the claimed limitations, including the slot sidewalls discussed in the rejection of claim 1 above.
Regarding claim 4, Tsutsui, as modified, discloses all of the claimed limitations above including [wherein said flag 93 extends axially beyond said first end.] (Fig. 4 of Tsutsui; As shown in Fig. 4, Tsutsui illustrates where the front-end portion 932a of the flag 93 extends axially beyond the first end.)
Regarding claim 5, Tsutsui, as modified, discloses all of the claimed limitations above including [wherein said body 91, 92 is flush with, or recessed axially inwardly from said first end.] (Fig. 5 of Tsutsui; Page 4, lines 39-44 of Tsutsui)
Regarding claim 7, Tsutsui, as modified, already discloses all of the claimed limitations, including the pockets longitudinal axis discussed in the rejection of claim 1 above.
Regarding claim 8, Tsutsui, as modified, discloses all of the claimed limitations above including [wherein said body 91, 92 is generally cylindrical.] (Fig. 5-6 of Tsutsui; Page 4, lines 39-44 of Tsutsui)
Regarding claim 9, Tsutsui, as modified, already discloses all of the claimed limitations, including the cylindrical pocket discussed in the rejection of claim 1 above.
Regarding claim 10, Tsutsui, as modified, already discloses all of the claimed limitations, including the sealing of the pocket discussed in the rejection of claim 1 above.
Regarding independent claim 11, Tsutsui discloses [a steering shaft 3 and clamp yoke assembly 8,] (Fig. 1-2; Page 2, lines 34-36) comprising:
[a clamp yoke 62 having an annular wall 624 with a through bore 620 and a fastener opening 62a configured for receipt of a clamp fastener 64 therein;] (Fig. 4; Page 4, lines 5-13)
[the steering shaft extending along a central longitudinal axis between opposite first and second end portions terminating at respective first and second ends,] (Fig. 1; Page 2, lines 25-28) [said first end portion being configured for receipt in said through bore of said clamp yoke] (Fig. 5; Page 3, lines 41-42; Page 4, lines 1-4) and [a flag device 9 having a body 91, 92 configured for receipt in said pocket and a flag 93 extending radially outwardly from said body,] (Fig. 6; Page 4, lines 39-44) [said flag being configured to obstruct said fastener opening until said steering shaft is inserted into said through bore to a predetermined insertion position.] (Fig. 6; Page 5, lines 39-43; Page 6, lines 1-4)
Tinnin et al. teaches [a pocket extending axially into said first end;] (Fig. 3-4) [a slot 72 extending radially outwardly from said recessed pocket, said flag extending through and radially outwardly from said slot;] (Fig. 2-4; Paragraph 0020-0021) [wherein said slot has opposite sidewalls configured to confront said flag to prevent said flag device from rotating relative to said steering shaft about said central longitudinal axis;] (Fig. 2-4; Paragraph 0020-0021) [wherein said pocket extends along said central longitudinal axis;] (Fig. 3-4) [wherein said pocket is generally cylindrical;] (Fig. 3-4) [wherein said flag device closes off said pocket against ingress of water.] (Fig. 3-4; As shown in Fig. 3-4, Tinnin et al. illustrates wherein a base shaft 76 extending from a yoke 36 closes off said pocket of the steering column shaft 12. Therefore, naturally preventing water from getting inside of the steering shaft.)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to alternatively use the axially extending pocket of Tinnin et al. with the steering shaft assembly of Tsutsui with a reasonable expectation of success because it would allow for internal placement and retention of the flag device within the steering shaft, thus improving structural integration and enabling controlled extension of the flag for proper interaction with the fastener opening.
Regarding claim 12, Tsutsui, as modified, already discloses all of the claimed limitations, including the slot discussed in the rejection of claim 11 above.
Regarding claim 13, Tsutsui, as modified, already discloses all of the claimed limitations, including the slot sidewalls discussed in the rejection of claim 11 above.
Regarding claim 14, Tsutsui, as modified, discloses all of the claimed limitations above including [wherein said flag 93 extends axially beyond said first end.] (Fig. 4 of Tsutsui; As shown in Fig. 4, Tsutsui illustrates where the front-end portion 932a of the flag 93 extends axially beyond the first end.)
Regarding claim 15, Tsutsui, as modified, discloses all of the claimed limitations above including [wherein said body 91, 92 is flush with, or recessed axially inwardly from said first end.] (Fig. 5 of Tsutsui; Page 4, lines 39-44 of Tsutsui)
Regarding claim 16, Tsutsui, as modified, already discloses all of the claimed limitations, including the pockets longitudinal axis discussed in the rejection of claim 11 above.
Regarding claim 17, Tsutsui, as modified, discloses all of the claimed limitations above including [wherein said body 91, 92 is generally cylindrical.] (Fig. 5-6 of Tsutsui; Page 4, lines 39-44 of Tsutsui) and the cylindrical pocket discussed in the rejection of claim 11 above.
Regarding claim 18, Tsutsui, as modified, already discloses all of the claimed limitations, including the sealing of the pocket discussed in the rejection of claim 11 above.
Regarding independent claim 19, Tsutsui [a steering assembly 1,] (Fig. 1; Page 2, lines 25-28) comprising:
[a pinion shaft 50;] (Fig. 1; Page 2, lines 25-28)
[a clamp yoke 61 having an opening 610 for receiving an end of the pinion shaft] (Fig. 1-3; Page 2, lines 35-37) and having [a fastener opening for receiving a fastener that clamps the clamp yoke to the pinion shaft;] (Fig. 1; Page 3, lines 5-8) and
[a blocking member 9 having a body 91, 92 capable of being disposed within an aperture of the pinion shaft] (Fig. 2 & 6; Page 3, lines 23- 28; Page 4, lines 39-44) and [having a blocking segment 93 extending from the main segment positioned to block the counter bore during an insertion range of the pinion shaft within the central opening and being clear of the counter bore at a predetermined insertion position.] (Fig. 6; Page 5, lines 39-43; Page 6, lines 1-4)
Tsutsui does not disclose the pinion shaft having an aperture.
Tinnin et al. teaches [the pinion shaft having an aperture;] (Fig. 3-4) [a slot 72 extending radially outwardly from said aperture, said blocking segment extending through and radially outwardly from said slot;] (Fig. 2-4; Paragraph 0020-0021)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to additionally use the aperture and slot configuration of Tinnin et al. with the steering assembly of Tsutsui with a reasonable expectation of success because it would allow for the blocking member to be housed inside of the pinion shaft while allowing the blocking segment to extend radially outward through the slot, thus facilitating controlled interaction with the fastener opening during insertion of the pinion shaft.
Regarding claim 20, Tsutsui, as modified, already discloses all of the claimed limitations, including the slot discussed in the rejection of claim 19 above.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 6 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:
Claim 6 contains the limitation wherein said body extends axially outwardly from said first end. The closest prior art, Tsutsui JP 2014141992 A, discloses a body extending axially outward, but does not disclose the body extending axially outwardly from the first end of the shaft.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Fritz et al. US 20090317183 A1 – comprises a shaft assembly including an outer member having an aperture, a shaft having an end configured to be received in the aperture of the outer member, and an insertion aid coupled with the end of the shaft to facilitate insertion of the shaft into the aperture in the outer member. The insertion aid can take the form of a plug coupled to the end of the shaft.
Otani US 20130051901 A1 – comprises a shaft coupling structure, wherein a lower joint yoke has a slit that axially extends from its open-end portion, and a guide cover is fitted around an input shaft so as to be rotatable together with the input shaft. The guide cover is formed of a guide portion that protrudes radially outward from the input shaft and that is engageable with the slit of the lower joint yoke, and a cover portion that covers an opening portion of a valve housing and that is fitted around the input shaft. The guide portion and the cover portion are formed integrally with each other.
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/Mohamed M Medani/Examiner, Art Unit 3611
/VALENTIN NEACSU, Ph.D./Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3611
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