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 .
DETAILED ACTION
Claims 1-20 are currently pending in this application. Claims 1-11, 14-20 are under examination.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1, 14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by CHIKARAISHI (2005/0133297).
Regarding Claim 1, CHIKARAISHI teaches an apparatus, comprising: a drive pulley (37), a driven pulley (39), and a transmission belt (41), wherein the drive pulley (37) is connected to the driven pulley (39) by using the transmission belt (41), and an axis (Cm) of the drive pulley is configured to rotate around a first axis (Cf).
Regarding Claim 14, CHIKARAISHI teaches a vehicle, comprising an apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises a drive pulley (37), a driven pulley (39), and a transmission belt (41), the drive pulley (37) is connected to the driven pulley (39) by using the transmission belt (41), and an axis of the drive pulley is configured to rotate around a first axis (Cf).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-11, 14-20 are 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.
further comprising: an adjustment pin, wherein an axis of the adjustment pin coincides with the first axis; and a tension pulley, wherein the tension pulley is disposed on the adjustment pin, and an outer circumferential surface of the tension pulley abuts against the transmission belt with the other elements in Claims 2 and 15.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 9/23/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argues that CHKARAISHI does not teach a central axis of a drive pulley is configured to rotate around a first axis in Claim 1 (Remarks pg. 3 para. 3). The drive pulley (37) central axis (Cm) is offset from the motor flange (71) central axis (Cf), so when the motor flange (71) rotates angularly relative to holding bore (73), the drive pulley (37) central axis (Cm) rotates angularly around the flange central axis (Cf) [0099].
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 HENRY Y LIU whose telephone number is (571)270-7018. The examiner can normally be reached 9-5:30 ET.
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, ROBERT W HODGE can be reached at 5712722097. 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.
HENRY Y. LIU
Examiner
Art Unit 3654
/HENRY Y LIU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3654
