; will 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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the bearing flush with the rear surface of the fan, the fan being within the motor as recited in claim 13 must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 14-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Beyerl et al. (US 2017/0288499 A1, hereinafter Beyerl).
As to claim 14, Beyerl shows (FIG. 1, 53) A power tool 100 comprising:
a brushless DC electric motor 2000 including
a stator 2100 defining an outer periphery of the brushless DC electric motor 2000,
a rotor 2200 disposed within the stator 2100,
an output shaft 2300 coupled to the rotor 2200, the output shaft 2300 extending along a rotational axis of the brushless DC electric motor, and
a fan 2400 coupled for co-rotation with the output shaft 2300,
a housing supporting the brushless DC electric motor 2000;
a battery selectively coupled to the housing, the battery configured to provide power to the brushless DC electric motor 2000; and
an output configured to be driven by the brushless DC electric motor 2000,
wherein the housing includes an end cap 900, and
wherein the fan 2400 is rotatably supported by the end cap 900 (para[0067], gear case 900 supports the entire motor including the fan para[0090],[0110]).
As to claim 15/14, Beyerl further shows (FIG. 1, 53) a bearing 2700 disposed between the end cap 900 and the fan 2400 (bearing 2700 para [0113]).
As to claim 16/15/14, Beyerl further shows (FIG. 1, 53) the bearing 2700 is recessed within the fan 2400 such that a rear end of the bearing 2700 is flush with a rear surface of the fan 2400.
As to claim 17/14, Beyerl further shows (FIG. 1, 53) at least a portion 2226 of the fan 2400 is disposed within the outer periphery of the brushless DC electric motor 2000 (para[0111]).
As to claim 18/17/14, Beyerl further shows (FIG. 1, 53) the fan 2400 is an axial flow fan.
As to claim 19/18/17/14, Beyerl further shows (FIG. 1, 53) the fan 2400 is further configured to generate an airflow radially away from a rotational axis of the brushless DC electric motor 2000 (is capable of performing the claimed function).
As to claim 20/17/14, Beyerl further shows (FIG. 1, 53) at least half of a length of the fan 2400 is disposed within the outer periphery of the brushless DC electric motor 2000 (fan 2400 integral with rotor frame 2200 para[0111]).
Claim(s) 1-6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Zhao (CN 203193448 U).
As to claim 1, Zhao shows (FIG. 1, 3) A brushless DC electric motor 100 (para[0027]) comprising:
a stator 13 including a plurality of windings 15 configured to generate magnetic fields;
a rotor 12 including a plurality of permanent magnets configured to interact with the magnetic fields generated by the plurality of windings 15 (permanent magnets are implied by the brushless motor); and
a fan 31 coupled for co-rotation with the rotor 12, the fan 31 including a plurality of blades,
wherein the stator 13 includes a first end defining a first end plane and a second end opposite the first end, the second end defining a second end plane such that the plurality of windings 15 are disposed between the first end plane and the second end plane, and
wherein the plurality of blades of the fan 31 is positioned at least partially between the first end plane and the second end plane (para [0029], [0030], fan 31 FIG. 3, fan 31 is inside of windings 15).
As to claim 2/1, Zhao further shows (FIG. 1, 3) the fan 31 is configured to generate an airflow along a rotational axis of the rotor 12 (see arrows) .
As to claim 3/1, Zhao further shows (FIG. 1, 3) the fan 31 is configured to generate an airflow radially away from a rotational axis of the motor 100 (see arrows).
As to claim 4/1, Zhao further shows (FIG. 1, 3) the rotor 12 includes an output shaft 11, and wherein the fan 31 is coupled for co-rotation with the output shaft 11.
As to claim 5/1, Zhao further shows (FIG. 1, 3) the plurality of blades has a length measured parallel to a rotational axis 11 of the motor 100, and wherein half of the length of the plurality of blades is disposed between the first end plane and the second end plane (more than half the length of the fan 31 is within the stator 13).
As to claim 6/5/1, Zhao further shows (FIG. 1, 3) a majority of the length of the plurality of blades is disposed between the first end plane and the second end plane (more than half the length of the fan 31 is within the stator 13).
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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 7-12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhao (CN 203193448 U) in view of Zucca (US 2021/0315101 A1).
As to claim 7, Zhao shows (FIG. 1, 3) A machine comprising:
a brushless DC electric motor 100 including
a stator 13 defining an outer periphery of the brushless DC electric motor 100,
a rotor 12 disposed within the stator 13,
an output shaft 11 coupled to the rotor 12, the output shaft 11 extending along a rotational axis of the brushless DC electric motor 100, and
a fan 31 coupled for co-rotation with the output shaft 11,
a housing 20 in which the brushless DC electric motor 100 is disposed,
wherein a portion of the fan 31 is disposed within the outer periphery of the brushless DC electric motor 100.
Zhao does not show:
a power tool;
a camshaft driven by the brushless DC electric motor;
an anvil extending from the housing; and
a hammer configured to reciprocate along the camshaft to deliver striking rotational impacts to the anvil in response to rotation of the camshaft.
Zucca shows (FIG. 1, 2):
a power tool;
a camshaft 46 driven by the brushless DC electric motor;
an anvil 44 extending from the housing; and
a hammer 48 configured to reciprocate along the camshaft 46 to deliver striking rotational impacts to the anvil 44 in response to rotation of the camshaft 46 (para [0030]).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the machine of Zhao to have:
a power tool;
a camshaft 46 driven by the brushless DC electric motor;
an anvil 44 extending from the housing; and
a hammer 48 configured to reciprocate along the camshaft 46 to deliver striking rotational impacts to the anvil 44 in response to rotation of the camshaft 46
as taught by Zucca, for the advantageous benefit of performing work on a workpiece as taught by Zucca (para[0030]).
As to claim 8/7, Zhao in view of Zucca was discussed above with respect to claim 7, and Zhao further shows the fan 31 is configured to generate an airflow along the rotational axis of the brushless DC electric motor 100 (see arrows).
As to claim 9/8/7, Zhao in view of Zucca was discussed above with respect to claim 7, and Zhao further shows the fan 31 is configured to generate an airflow radially away from the rotational axis of the brushless DC electric motor 100 (see arrows).
As to claim 10/7, Zhao in view of Zucca was discussed above with respect to claim 7, and Zhao further shows (FIG. 1, 3) the fan 31 includes a plurality of blades, and wherein at least half of a length of the plurality of blades is disposed within the outer periphery of the brushless DC electric motor 100.
As to claim 11/7, Zhao in view of Zucca was discussed above with respect to claim 7, and Zhao further shows (FIG. 1):
PNG
media_image1.png
663
690
media_image1.png
Greyscale
the housing 20 includes an end cap 21 and a post 21A extending from the end cap 21, wherein a bearing 14A is disposed on the post 21A and configured to rotatably support the rotor 12.
As to claim 12/11/7, Zhao in view of Zucca was discussed above with respect to claim 7, and Zhao further shows (FIG. 1) the bearing 14A rotatably supports the fan 31.
Claim(s) 13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhao (CN 203193448 U) in view of Zucca (US 2021/0315101 A1) and Beyerl et al. (US 2017/0288499 A1, hereinafter Beyerl).
As to claim 13/12/11/7, Zhao in view of Zucca was discussed above with respect to claim 7, and Zhao further shows (FIG. 1) the bearing 14A includes a front end and a rear end opposite the front end, the rear end being disposed adjacent to the end cap 21, and
Zhao does not show the rear end is flush with a rear surface of the fan.
Beyerl shows (FIG. 53) the rear end of the bearing is flush with a rear surface of the fan.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the machine of Zhao in view of zucca to have the rear end is flush with a rear surface of the fan as taught by Beyerl, for the advantageous benefit of making the power tool more compact.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ROBERT E MATES whose telephone number is (571)270-5293. The examiner can normally be reached M to F 12:00pm to 8pm.
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, TULSIDAS PATEL can be reached at (571)272-2098. 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.
/ROBERT E MATES/Examiner, Art Unit 2834
/TULSIDAS C PATEL/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2834
Prosecution Insights