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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claim(s) 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 30, 33 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Mizutani (US 2025/0074186; hereinafter "Mizutani").
Claim 21
Mizutani discloses a power machine comprising:
a frame (1, 2 or other stationary components connected to housing 1, 2);
a power source ("non-illustrated battery" disclosed in paragraph [0018]) supported by the frame (4A, 4B or other stationary components connected to housing 4);
a first axle assembly (one of wheel assemblies connected to 13, 14) arranged on a first side of the frame; and
a first motor sub-assembly (e.g., 13 or 14, 21-23, 1 or 2) arranged along the first side of the frame to power the first axle assembly, the first motor sub- assembly including:
a bearing carrier (13 or 14) having an inboard side (respective side closer to vertical centerline in FIG. 1, i.e., right side of 13 or left side of 14), and an outboard side (left side of 13 or right side of 14) configured to be fixedly attached to a first side of a frame of the power machine to operably transmit rotational power to at least one tractive element of the power machine;
a reduction assembly (21, 22 and 23) having an outboard side (left side of left 21, 22 and 23; right side of right 21, 22 and 23 in FIG. 1) fixedly attached to the inboard side of the bearing carrier; and
an electric motor (1 or 2) having an inboard side (right side of 1; left side of 2) fixedly attached to the outboard side of the reduction assembly (at 21) to operably transmit the rotational power to the bearing carrier via the reduction assembly, with the electric motor (1 or 2) disposed laterally between the reduction assembly (21-23) and the first side (side of the frame that equates to whichever axle is used left or right) of the frame,
wherein:
the bearing carrier (13 or 14) is fixedly attached to and operably supported by the first side of the frame (4A for 13; 4B for 14) and operably engaged with the first axle assembly (see e.g., paragraph [0022]);
the reduction assembly (21, 22 and 23) is operably supported by the bearing carrier (13 or 14) relative to the frame, with the reduction assembly inboard of the bearing carrier (see FIG. 1) and operably engaged with the first bearing carrier to power the first axle assembly via the bearing carrier (see FIG. 1); and
the electric motor (1 or 2) is operably supported by the reduction assembly (21-23) relative to the bearing carrier (13 or 14), to be thereby supported by the bearing carrier relative to the frame, with the electric motor being: outboard of the reduction assembly, inboard of the first axle assembly (which is to the left in FIG. 1 for 13 and to the right in FIG. 1 for 14), and operably engaged with the reduction assembly to power the first axle assembly via the reduction assembly and the bearing carrier, using power from the power source.
Claim 22
Mizutani discloses wherein the reduction assembly is a gearbox providing a speed reduction for power transmission between the electric motor and the bearing carrier (see FIG. 1 and/or paragraph [0024]).
Claim 25
Mizutani discloses wherein, with the first motor sub-assembly secured to the frame of the power machine, a drive axis of the electric motor is one or more of: parallel with the power transmission axis (see FIG. 1).
Claim 26
Mizutani discloses a second axle assembly (other of wheel assemblies connected to 13 and 14, not chosen as the first axle assembly) arranged on a second side (side on which the chosen of 13 and 14 is located) of the frame that is laterally opposite the first side; and a second motor sub-assembly (e.g., other of 13 or 14, 21-23, 1 or 2) arranged along the second side of the frame to power the second axle assembly (other of the wheel assemblies connected to other of 13 or 14), the second motor sub-assembly including:
a second bearing carrier (other of 13 or 14) configured to be fixedly attached to a second side of a frame and operably transmit engaged with the second axle assembly;
a second reduction assembly (21, 22 and 23) operatively supported by the second bearing carrier relative to the frame, with the second reduction assembly inboard of the second bearing carrier and operatively engaged with the second reduction assembly (21-23) to power the second axle assembly (wheel assembly connected to other of 13 and 14); and
a second electric motor (other of 1 or 2) operably supported by the second reduction assembly (21-23) relative to the second bearing carrier (other of 13 and 14), to be thereby supported by the second bearing carrier relative to the frame, with the second electric motor being: outboard of the second reduction assembly, inboard of the
second axle assembly, and operably engaged with the second reduction assembly to power the second axle assembly via the second reduction assembly and second bearing carrier, using power from the power source.
Claim 27
Mizutani discloses wherein a power transmission axis of the bearing carrier is aligned with a power transmission axis of the second bearing carrier, relative to a front to back direction of the power machine, and optionally or preferably wherein a drive axis of the electric motor is aligned with a drive axis of the second electric motor along the front to back direction (see FIGS. 1 or 2 illustrating both bearing carriers (13 and 14) coaxial).
Claim 30
Mizutani discloses wherein the electric motor is one or more of: operably supported relative to the frame only by the bearing carrier, via the reduction assembly (see FIG. 1 illustrating the left end of 1A not supported).
Claim 33
Mizutani discloses a method of assembling a power machine, the method comprising:
securing a first motor sub-assembly (1 or 1B, 13, 21-23) on a first lateral side (left side in FIG. 1) of the power machine, to power one or more first tractive elements (wheels) on the first lateral side, including:
securing a first bearing carrier (13) to a first frame sidewall (4A) on the first lateral side of the power machine;
securing a first gearbox (left 21-23) to be cantilevered from the first bearing carrier (13) with the first gearbox (21-23) inboard (to the right in FIG. 1) of the first bearing carrier (13) and the first frame sidewall (4A); and
securing a first electric motor (1 or 1B) to be cantilevered from the first gearbox (see 1A not secured at its left side) with the first electric motor outboard (to the left in FIG. 1) of the first gearbox (21-23) and inboard of the first frame sidewall (4A) (see FIG. 1).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claim(s) 24 and 28 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Mizutani in view of Sattler et al. (WO 2021/180499A1; hereinafter "Sattler").
Claim 24
Mizutani discloses the first motor sub-assembly is secured to the frame but does not disclose a view that would illustrate the forward backward location of the motor relative to the transmission and therefore does not disclose wherein, with the first motor sub-assembly secured to the frame of the power machine, the electric motor is supported by the reduction assembly with a drive axis of the electric motor rearward of a power transmission axis of the bearing carrier. However, Sattler discloses wherein, the electric motor is rearward of the bearing carrier/axle (see e.g., FIG. 4 illustrating both a forward option and a rearward option). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention with a reasonable expectation of success to have modified Mizutani so that the motors were forward or rearward of the remainder of the structure, including the axles and associated bearing carriers since this is a design choice between known alternatives of options that yield predictable results. If the weight is desired to be moved forward or rearward, one method of achieving this would be to use a forward or rearward position of the motor for example. As so modified, the electric motor would be is supported by the reduction assembly with a drive axis of the electric motor rearward of a power transmission axis of the bearing carrier.
Claim 28
Mizutani does not disclose a view that would illustrate the forward backward location of the motor relative to the transmission and therefore does not disclose wherein the drive axis of the electric motor is offset one of forward or rearward from a drive axis of the second electric motor, relative to a front to back direction of the power machine. However, Sattler discloses wherein, the electric motor is rearward of the bearing carrier/axle (see e.g., FIG. 4 illustrating both a forward option and a rearward option). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention with a reasonable expectation of success to have modified Mizutani so that the motors were forward or rearward of the remainder of the structure, including the axles and associated bearing carriers since this is a design choice between known alternatives of options that yield predictable results. If the weight is desired to be moved forward or rearward, one method of achieving this would be to use a forward or rearward position of the motor for example. As so modified, the electric motor would be is supported by the reduction assembly with a drive axis of the electric
motor rearward of a power transmission axis of the bearing carrier.
Claim(s) 29 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Mizutani in view of Kalmbach et al. (DE 202019103770U1; hereinafter "Kalmbach").
Claim 29
Mizutani does not disclose wherein a drive axis of the electric motor is horizontally aligned with a power transmission axis of the bearing carrier and a drive axis of the second electric motor is horizontally aligned with a power transmission axis of the second bearing carrier. However, it is well known to provide the motor at the same horizontal plane as the output shaft, which is the bearing carrier in Mizutani. For example, Kalmbach discloses two motors (5, 7), a transmission (1) and two outputs (see FIG. 1) where the motors (along axis 29) are in the same horizontal plane as the transmission output shaft that go to the wheels (along axis 25) (see FIG. 2 and Abstract). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention with a reasonable expectation of success to have modified Mizutani to have moved the motors downward to align horizontally with the axle and output shafts/bearing carriers in order to provide more passenger compartment space and/or to lower the overall vehicle height.
Claim(s) 32 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Mizutani in view of Yu et al. (US 2022/0263383; hereinafter "Yu").
Claim 32
Mizutani does not disclose wherein the electric motor includes a cooling loop, and a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet that are in communication with the cooling loop; and wherein, the first motor sub-assembly is secured to the frame of the power machine so that the reduction assembly supports the electric motor with the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet one or more of: opening rearwardly, relative to a front to back direction of the power machine; or being aligned below a top surface of the reduction assembly. However, Yu discloses wherein the electric motor (e.g., 2, 3) includes a cooling loop (e.g., 1), and a coolant inlet (7) and a coolant outlet (20) that are in communication with the cooling loop (1); and wherein, the first motor sub-assembly (inside gearbox housing 8) is secured to the frame of the power machine so that the reduction assembly supports the electric motor with the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet one or more of: being adjacent a top surface of the reduction assembly (installed inside of 8) and aligned by both being in a horizontal direction. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention with a reasonable expectation of success to have modified Mizutani to include a cooling assembly as taught by Yu including an inlet that is close to the top surface of the reduction assembly and the inlet being along the same direction as the top surface of the reducer assembly in order to cool both the reducer assembly and motor using the same cooling loop.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 23, 31, and 34-38 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.
With reference to claim 23 (and dependent claim 36), the prior art does not disclose or render obvious a power machine comprising the combination of features as recited including "wherein, as installed on the frame, the electric motor is cantilevered from the reduction assembly and the reduction assembly is cantilevered from the bearing carrier." The combination of both of these features being cantilevered in the context of the overall combination is a non-obvious combination. In the prior art, one or the other of these elements is fully supported and therefore not cantilevered. It would not have been obvious to have modified this support in order to lower the overall support of the components.
With reference to claim 31 and 35, the prior art does not recognize the ratio of the total width of the first motor sub-assembly relative to the frame width in which it is installed, and specifically in the range of 40-48%.
With reference to claim 34, the prior art does not disclose or render obvious the specific sequence of steps as these are recited.
With reference to claim 37, the prior art disclose or render obvious a power machine comprising the combination of features as recited including "wherein the first motor sub-assembly is secured to a first chain case on the first lateral side of the frame to power first and second axles of the power machine, and the second motor sub-assembly is secured to a second chain case on the second lateral side of the frame to power third and fourth axles of the power machine” in combination with the other features of the claim.
With reference to claim 38, the prior art disclose or render obvious a power machine comprising the combination of features as recited including "wherein a drive axis of the electric motor is aligned with a drive axis of the second electric motor along the front to back direction.” This aligned direction is in a perpendicular direction to that of the claim and modifying the prior art would alter all supporting structure of the claim which is required by the underlying parent claim.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed May 27, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argues that Mizutani discloses the casing 4 directly and separately supports the motors 1, 2, the bearing carriers (e.g., the supports near output shafts 13, 14) and the intervening gears 21, 22, 23. Applicant summarizes that the motors and reduction gears in Mizutani derive their structural support from the casing, not from one another and not from the output shafts. The claim recites “the reduction assembly is operably supported by the bearing carrier relative to the frame” and “the electric motor is operably supported by the reduction assembly relative to the bearing carrier.”
As can be seen in FIG. 1, the motors are only supported on their inner sides via their respective motor shaft, which as would be readily understood by those having ordinary skill in the art, would cause a bending force at the gear (21), which would then transfer to the entire countershaft (shaft that has integral gear 23). With reference to the left motor and left sided support, this in turn would provide a downward and also bending force on gear 24 which would then cause the same reactive force on gear 3Pa, which would transfer to both gear 3S2 and carrier 3C. The portion that transfers to 3C would also be experienced by integral member 13 which is directly supported by bearings. While the specification recites that in some examples, the first electric motor can be operably supported relative to the frame “only” via the first reduction assembly, the claims are not so limited and the specification describes that in some cases the reduction assembly can be further supported by other structural connections with the frame (see paragraph [0086]). The specification also describes that the reduction assemblies may be only “or primarily” supported relative to the frame by the bearing carrier, thereby including the option that some of the force is supported by additional structure even under this description of the embodiment (see paragraph [0087]). In view of the above, the term “operably supported by” does not prohibit additional support features. This is not an exclusive or close ended limitation. As such, the rejection must be maintained.
The amendments overcome the prior rejection under 112(b).
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 STACEY A FLUHART whose telephone number is (571)270-1851. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th 9AM-7PM.
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, Ernesto Suarez can be reached at 571-270-5565. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/STACEY A FLUHART/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3655
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