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 .
This communication is in response to amendment received on 12/05/2025.
Claims 1 and 3 are presented for examination.
Claims 2 and 4 – 6 have been canceled by the applicant.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed on 12/05/2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. The applicant argues that “Osada does not teach a main shaft adapter (12) (the shaft) that is press- fitted into the main shaft (la) of a motor on one side and a tubular portion (13) of a main shaft gear (10) on the other side. See FIG. 9 and Spec [0065]. Even though Osada teaches a spindle gear (20) with a hole diameter that is larger on one side of the spindle gear (2) than on the other side of the spindle gear (20), a spindle gear is not a shaft adapter. A spindle gear is commonly used to transmit a rotational motion within the system, while a shaft adapter is used to adapt or convert the shaft's diameter. Therefore, although Osada teaches a spindle gear, it does not teach a shaft with a through hole that has a hole diameter in a region having a predetermined length in an axial direction from a side of the one end larger than a hole diameter at a side of the other end. Further, the shaft (1a) that is actually disclosed in Osada is the shaft of the motor, which is not a shaft adapter either.”. Examiner respectfully notes that these arguments are not persuasive because the none of these features are present in the claim language. Although the claims are interpreted in light of the specification, limitations from the specification are not read into the claims. Applicant must recite the argued features in the claim if applicant wishes these features to be given patentable weight.
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 and 3 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being obvious over JP 2020165851 in view of WO2006/054587.
As to claim 1, JP 2020165851 (hereinafter ‘JP851) discloses an absolute encoder comprising a shaft (1a, (Fig. 7 and 8)); and a supporting member (20) having a hole for press-fitting the shaft from one end, wherein the shaft (1a) includes a tapered surface portion having a diameter of the one end smaller than a diameter of a peripheral surface, wherein the shaft (1a) has a through hole passing through from the one end to the other end, and the through hole has a hole diameter in a region having a predetermined length in an axial direction from a side of the one end larger than a hole diameter at a side of the other end (the inner hole at the pressing portion 20e is larger than the holes at the communication portion 20c and the holding portion 20g) (Fig. 7 - 8; [0054]-[0062]).
PNG
media_image1.png
508
702
media_image1.png
Greyscale
JP851 fails to disclose that the tapered surface portion is subjected to curved surface processing at a connecting portion with the peripheral surface. WO2006/054587 (hereinafter ‘WO587) discloses a press-fitting member wherein the tapered surface portion (13 - 17) is subjected to curved surface processing at a connecting portion with the peripheral surface (Note Fig. 2 and 4), [0011] – [0012].
PNG
media_image2.png
718
724
media_image2.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image3.png
760
763
media_image3.png
Greyscale
Therefore, at the time of the invention, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to modify the device of JP 2020165851 in view of the teachings of WO2006/054587 wherein the tapered surface portion is subjected to curved surface processing at a connecting portion with the peripheral surface would provide an expanded curve for press-fitting to guide surface with a linear taper resulting in press-fitting with high precision.
As to claim 3, JP 2020165851 (hereinafter ‘JP851) discloses an absolute encoder comprising a magnet (Mp, Mq) magnetized; a magnetic sensor (Sp, Sq) configured to detect a magnetic flux from the magnet (Mp, Mq); a magnet holder (25) holding the magnet (Mp, Mq); a shaft (1a) rotatably supporting the magnet (Mp, Mq); and a supporting member (20) having a hole (20e) for press-fitting the shaft (1a) from one end, wherein the shaft (1a) comprises: a region (20e) having a predetermined length in an axial direction from one end of a peripheral surface to be press-fitted into the hole (20e); and a tapered surface portion having a diameter of the one end smaller than a diameter of a peripheral surface, wherein the shaft (1a) has a through hole passing through from the one end to the other end, and the through hole has a hole diameter in a region having a predetermined length in an axial direction from a side of the one end larger than a hole diameter at a side of the other end (the inner hole at the pressing portion 20e is larger than the holes at the communication portion 20c and the holding portion 20g) (Fig. 7 - 8; [0054]-[0062]). ‘P851 fails to disclose that the tapered surface portion is subjected to curved surface processing at a connecting portion with the peripheral surface. WO2006/054587 (hereinafter ‘WO587) discloses a press-fitting member wherein the tapered surface portion (13 - 17) is subjected to curved surface processing at a connecting portion with the peripheral surface (Note Fig. 2 and 4), [0011] – [0012]. Therefore, at the time of the invention, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to modify the device of JP 2020165851 in view of the teachings of WO2006/054587 wherein the tapered surface portion is subjected to curved surface processing at a connecting portion with the peripheral surface would provide an expanded curve for press-fitting to guide surface with a linear taper resulting in press-fitting with high precision.
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 REENA AURORA whose telephone number is (571)272-2263. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 8:00AM-5:00PM.
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, Lee Rodak can be reached at 5712705628. 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.
/REENA AURORA/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2858