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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-12 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claims 1-7 and 9- 12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C 103 as being unpatentable over Arnault (US 2022/0294319) and in view of Hubert (US 20210021180).
As to claim 1, Arnault discloses a brush assembly (Fig. 3) comprising: a brush including a support and a plurality of conductive fibers fitted within the support (Fig. 3); and a brush fitting plate connected with the support of the brush and including a radial portion supported axially against the support of the brush (Fig. 3 and 4), a plurality of retention tongues configured to axially retain the support and an annular axial centering portion configured to radially center the support of the brush and extending from the radial portion (Fig. 4), the axial centering portion of the fitting plate being supported radially against the support of the brush and the retention tongues extending from the axial centering portion (Fig. 3 and 4).
PNG
media_image1.png
387
400
media_image1.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image2.png
462
282
media_image2.png
Greyscale
Arnault fails to disclose a grounding brush assembly, an annular axial centering portion configured extending continuously around the entire perimeter of the support of the brush, and the axial centering portion of the fitting plate radially surrounding the support.
Hubert, however, discloses a grounding brush assembly (Para 0023), an annular axial centering portion configured extending continuously around the entire perimeter of the support of the brush, and the axial centering portion of the fitting plate radially surrounding the support (Fig. 3 and 4).
PNG
media_image3.png
557
398
media_image3.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image4.png
337
357
media_image4.png
Greyscale
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective
filing date of the claimed invention to provide the assembly of Arnault with a grounding brush assembly, an annular axial centering portion configured extending continuously around the entire perimeter of the support of the brush, and the axial centering portion of the fitting plate radially surrounding the support, as disclosed by Hubert, in order to better secure the support.
As to claim 2, the combination of Arnault and Hubert discloses the assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of retention tongues extend axially from a side of the annular axial centering portion opposite to the radial portion (Fig. 4 of Arnault).
PNG
media_image5.png
476
344
media_image5.png
Greyscale
As to claim 3, the combination of Arnault and Hubert disclose the assembly according to claim 1, wherein the support of the brush includes a fitting portion and two lateral flanks extending radially inwardly from the fitting portion and axially enclosing the conductive fibers (Fig. 4 of Arnault), the radial portion of the fitting plate being supported axially against one of the lateral flanks of the support and the annular axial centering portion being supported radially against the fitting portion of the support (Fig. 4 of Arnault).
PNG
media_image6.png
525
301
media_image6.png
Greyscale
As to claim 4, the combination of Arnault and Hubert discloses the assembly according to claim 3, wherein each one of the plurality of retention tongues includes an axial portion supported radially against the fitting portion of the support of the brush (Fig. 4 of Arnault) and a radial portion extending radially inwardly from the axial portion and axially contacting the support (Fig. 4 of Arnault).
PNG
media_image7.png
469
336
media_image7.png
Greyscale
As to claim 5, the combination of Arnault and Hubert discloses the assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of retention tongues are circumferentially spaced apart (Fig. 3 of Arnault).
PNG
media_image8.png
472
478
media_image8.png
Greyscale
As to claim 6, the combination of Arnault and Hubert discloses the assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fitting plate further includes a fitting portion which is offset radially outwardly with respect to the annular axial centering portion and with respect to the retention tongues (Fig. 3 of Arnault), the fitting portion having an outer surface defining the outer diameter of the fitting plate (Fig. 3 of Arnault).
PNG
media_image9.png
492
571
media_image9.png
Greyscale
As to claim 7, the combination of Arnault and Hubert discloses the assembly according to claim 6, wherein the fitting portion of the fitting plate includes an annular flange (Fig. 2 of Arnault).
PNG
media_image10.png
397
319
media_image10.png
Greyscale
As to claim 9, the combination of Arnault and Hubert discloses the assembly according to claim 6, wherein the fitting plate further includes at least one connection portion extending from the annular axial centering portion and connected to the fitting portion (Fig. 2 and 4 of Arnault).
PNG
media_image11.png
453
634
media_image11.png
Greyscale
As to claim 10, the combination of Arnault and Hubert discloses the assembly according to claim 9, wherein the connection portion of the fitting plate is disposed on one axial side of the support of the brush and the radial portion of the fitting plate is disposed on an opposing axial side of the support of the brush (Fig. 4 of Arnault).
PNG
media_image12.png
528
339
media_image12.png
Greyscale
As to claim 11, the combination of Arnault and Hubert discloses an electric motor (Para 0003 of Arnault) comprising: a housing (Para 0003 of Arnault); a shaft (Para 003 of Arnault); and at least one grounding brush assembly according to claim 1, the grounding brush assembly being fitted radially between the housing and the shaft (Fig. 1, Para 0039 of Arnault), the conductive fibers of the brush of the assembly being in contact with the shaft (Fig. 1 of Arnault).
PNG
media_image13.png
368
411
media_image13.png
Greyscale
As to claim 12, Arnault discloses a brush assembly comprising: a grounding brush including a support and a plurality of conductive fibers fitted within the support (Fig. 3); and a brush fitting plate connected with the support of the brush and including a radial portion supported axially against the support of the brush (Fig. 3 and 4), a plurality of retention tongues configured to axially retain the support (Fig. 4), an annular axial centering portion configured to radially center the support of the brush and extending from the radial portion (Fig. 4), the axial centering portion of the fitting plate being supported radially against the support of the brush and the retention tongues extending from the axial centering portion (Fig. 3 and 4), an annular fitting portion for fitting and centering the fitting plate within a bore of a housing (Fig. 3), the annular fitting portion being offset radially outwardly with respect to and radially surrounding the annular axial centering portion and the retention tongues and having an outer surface defining the outer diameter of the fitting plate (Fig. 3), and at least one radial connection portion extending radially outwardly from an axial side of the annular axial centering portion opposite to the radial portion of the fitting plate and connected to the fitting portion (Fig. 2).
PNG
media_image14.png
431
328
media_image14.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image1.png
387
400
media_image1.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image2.png
462
282
media_image2.png
Greyscale
Arnault fails to discloses a grounding brush assembly.
Hubert, however, discloses a grounding brush assembly (Para 0023).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide the assembly of Arnault with a grounding brush assembly, as disclosed by Hubert, in order to provide a return path for faulty currents.
Claim 8 is rejected under 35 U.S.C 103 as being unpatentable over Arnault, Hubert, and in view of Leisinger (US 2021/0234436).
As to claim 8, the combination of Arnault and Hubert discloses the assembly according to claim 6, wherein the fitting portion of the fitting plate includes a flange and a circumferential direction (Fig. 2 of Arnault).
PNG
media_image15.png
434
321
media_image15.png
Greyscale
Arnault fails to disclose a plurality of fitting lugs.
Leisinger, however, discloses a plurality of fitting lugs (Para 0023).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective
filing date of the claimed invention to provide the assembly of Arnault with a plurality of fitting lugs, as
disclosed by Leisinger, to properly secure the plate.
Conclusion
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 ETHAN N VO whose telephone number is (571)270-7593. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5pm.
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,
Christopher M Koehler can be reached on 571 272 3560. 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.
/ETHAN NGUYEN VO/
Examiner, Art Unit 2834
/CHRISTOPHER M KOEHLER/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2834