DETAILED ACTION
Claim Objections
Claim 2 is objected to because of the following informalities:
In claim 2, line 4, “the neutral” lacks a proper antecedent basis;
In claim 2, line 4, “the other” lacks a proper antecedent basis;
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112(b)
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 1-3 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.
Regarding claim 1, the definition of the x and y axes is indefinite, because the automobile is not part of the chassis dynamometer apparatus, and because the drive wheel connecter is not disclosed, so it is not clear where the automobile would connect to the chassis dynamometer apparatus.
Further regarding claim 1, the limitation “the tilting support comprises a tilting shaft projecting from each of leg portions suspended at both ends in the x-axis direction of the load motor and extending in the x-axis direction” in lines 15-16 makes the scope of the claim indefinite, because it is not clear which both ends of which component are suspended, and it is not clear how the both ends are suspended, or what the both ends are suspended from.
Further regarding claim 1, the claim is indefinite because it is not clear how a single “a first bearing” is capable of rotatably supporting each of the tilting shafts, as the tilting shafts are shown at opposite ends of the assembly in Fig. 1.
Regarding claim 2, the scope of the claim is indefinite because the claim recites “each of the return devices” in lines 1-2. However, only a single “first return device,” which makes it unclear why claim 2 would refer to a plurality of return devices.
Further regarding claim 2, the scope of the claim is indefinite because the use of ‘(s)’ to indicate a possibility of a plurality of certain components makes it unclear how many of each component exists, and which components are related to each other. For example, the claim recites “an elastic member” in line 6, and then recites that single elastic member is interposed between each of the first inclined pieces and each of the second inclined pieces. However, it appears that there are two corresponding pairs of first inclined pieces and second inclined pieces, at each end of the chassis dynamometer, and a single elastic member would not be capable of being interposed between all of the included inclined pieces.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-3 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 112, but would appear to possibly be allowable if the rejections were overcome. Claim 2 is also objected to, which objects would need to be overcome to make claim 2 allowable.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Regarding claim 1, the claim is deemed to be directed to a nonobvious difference over US 20210215573 A1. Claim 1 recites a tilting support disposed under the load motor and supporting the load motor so as to be tiltable, the tilting support comprises a tilting shaft projecting from each of leg portions suspended at both ends in the x-axis direction of the load motor and extending in the x-axis direction; a first bearing for rotatably supporting each of the tilting shafts, the first bearing being provided at the mounting frame; and a first return device for returning the tilted load motor to the neutral attitude, and wherein the rotary support comprises a rotary shaft suspended at a central portion in both the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction of the mounting frame; and a second bearing suspended at a central portion in both the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction of the movable table, so as to optimize the operation of the dynamometer.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
US 20210215573 A1 discloses in the chassis dynamometer apparatus, a pedestal contains a mounting frame on which a load motor is mounted, and a base under the mounting frame. Provided that a longitudinal direction of a vehicle is an x-axis direction and a width direction of the vehicle is a y-axis direction, a first movable mount(s) slidable in one side of the x-axis or y-axis direction, a second movable stand slidable in the other side of the x-axis or y-axis direction, and a spherical joint tiltable and rotatable in an arbitrary direction are connected in series between the mounting frame and the base. US 20210215573 A1 does not appear to disclose a tilting section having tilting shafts, bearings, and returning devices.
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/LEO T HINZE/
Patent Examiner
AU 2853
27 July 2026
/STEPHEN D MEIER/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2853
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