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 . This Office Action is responsive to the Applicant's communication filed June 2, 2026. In view of this communication and the amendment concurrently filed: claims 11-20 were previously pending; claim 14 was cancelled and claim 21 was added by amendment; and thus, claims 11-13 and 15-21 are now pending in the application.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed June 2, 2026 have been fully considered.
The Applicant's first point (page 6 of Remarks) amends claim 20 to an independent form, making the 112(d) rejection moot. Therefore the 112(d) rejection has been removed
The Applicant's second point (page 8-9 of Remarks) argues that the Examiner has used reference numeral 44 of UENO to refer to two different elements. While UNEO refers to numeral 44 as the terminal holding portion this anticipates the conical portion of the present invention. While the conical portion is not referenced as such in UNEO the conical portion of the present invention is taught by the terminal holding part 44, thus the reference numeral 44 is used in the rejection. A more clearly illustrated rejection is shown below.
The Applicant's third point (page 8-9 of Remarks) argues that the prior art does not teach, “compression ribs each being separate from and disposed on a respective conical portion of a plastic material overmolding,” or, “the compression ribs running parallel to a rotor axis and resting on a periphery of a passage opening,” with out giving any additional argument to the previously given rejection filed on March 4, 2026. Therefor the 102 rejection is changed to cover the new amendment and upheld.
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 partially deformed compression ribs of claim 21 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
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) 11-13 and 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated UENO (US 20200195083 A1).
Regarding claim 11, UENO teaches:
An electric motor (Fig 1; 30) of an ancillary unit or electromechanical brake booster of a motor vehicle[0073], the electric motor (Fig 1; 30) comprising: a stator (Fig 1; 31)disposed concentrically with a rotor axis(Fig 1; 32), said stator(Fig 1; 31) having a plurality of electric coils wired for a plurality of phases[0035];
a bearing shield (Fig 2; 50) having a passage opening(Fig 2; 503);
a plurality of one-piece busbars(Fig 2; 41) each electrically contacting a respective one of the plurality of phases[0041], said plurality of one-piece busbars(Fig 2; 41) protruding through said passage opening(Fig 2; 503)[0052],
a plastic material overmolding (Fig 2; 42)at least partially encasing said plurality of one- piece busbars(Fig 2; 41) together[0041],
said plastic material overmolding (Fig 2; 42) having conical portions (Fig 6; 44)each surrounding part of a respective one of said plurality of one-piece busbars(Fig 6; 41); and
compression ribs (Fig 6; 443)each being separate from and disposed on a respective one of said conical portions(Fig 6; 44), said compression ribs (Fig 5; 443) running parallel to said rotor axis (Fig 5; X)and resting on a periphery of said passage opening(Fig 5; 503)( The compression ribs 443 are provided to enhance the shear strength in the molding shrinkage direction of the overmolding 42 in view of the fact that the positional relationship between the plurality of terminal passage opening 503 in the bearing shield 50, thus they must lie on the periphery [0062]).
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Regarding claim 12, UENO teaches the electric motor according to claim 11:
wherein said plurality of one-piece busbars (Fig 3; 41)each have one end region (Fig 3; 41b) disposed parallel to said rotor axis(Fig 3; Z), said end regions (Fig 3; 41b)are guided through said passage opening(Fig 3; 503)[0050], said end regions (Fig 3; 41b)are mutually disposed tangentially relative to said rotor axis(Fig 3; Z), and each of said end regions (Fig 3; 41b)is surrounded by a respective one of said conical portion (Fig 3; 44)of said plastic material overmolding(Fig 3; 42)[0052].
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Regarding claim 13, UENO teaches the electric motor according to claim 12:
wherein said conical portions (Fig 6; 44) are connected to one another by a stabilizing rib(Fig 6; 441).
Regarding claim 20, UENO teaches:
An ancillary unit or electromechanical brake booster of a motor vehicle, the ancillary unit or electromechanical brake booster[0073], comprising an electric motor including:
a stator (Fig 1; 31)disposed concentrically with a rotor axis(Fig 1; 32), said stator(Fig 1; 31) having a plurality of electric coils wired for a plurality of phases[0035];
a bearing shield (Fig 2; 50) having a passage opening(Fig 2; 503);
a plurality of one-piece busbars(Fig 2; 41) each electrically contacting a respective one of the plurality of phases[0041], said plurality of one-piece busbars(Fig 2; 41) protruding through said passage opening(Fig 2; 503)[0052],
a plastic material overmolding (Fig 2; 42)at least partially encasing said plurality of one- piece busbars(Fig 2; 41) together[0041],
said plastic material overmolding (Fig 2; 42) having conical portions (Fig 6; 44)each surrounding part of a respective one of said plurality of one-piece busbars(Fig 6; 41); and
compression ribs (Fig 6; 443)each being separate from and disposed on a respective one of said conical portions(Fig 6; 44), said compression ribs (Fig 5; 443) running parallel to said rotor axis (Fig 5; X)and resting on a periphery of said passage opening(Fig 5; 503)( The compression ribs 443 are provided to enhance the shear strength in the molding shrinkage direction of the overmolding 42 in view of the fact that the positional relationship between the plurality of terminal passage opening 503 in the bearing shield 50, thus they must lie on the periphery [0062]).
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.
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) 15-18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over UENO (US 20200195083 A1) in view of SHIRAISHI (US 20190386535 A1).
In regards to claim 15, UENO, teaches the electric motor according to claim 11.
UENO does not teach:
which further comprises an interconnection element disposed between said stator and said bearing shield, said interconnection element including a plurality of insertion pockets, said insertion pockets each having a respective contact element inserted therein, and each of said contact elements having a clamping contact clamping a respective one of said plurality of one-piece busbars.
SHIRAISHI teaches:
which further comprises an interconnection element (Fig 1; 11) disposed between said stator (Fig 1; 10)and said bearing shield(Fig 1; 126), said interconnection element (Fig 6; 11) including a plurality of insertion pockets(Fig 6; 11a), said insertion pockets (Fig 6; 11a) each having a respective contact element (Fig 2/6; 13)inserted therein[0049], and each of said contact elements(Fig 2; 13) having a clamping contact (Fig 2; 133)clamping a respective one of said plurality of one-piece busbars(Fig 6; 121)[0061].
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Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify UENO by adding an interconnection element with the insertion pockets, contact element, and wire portion taught by SHIRAISHI in order have a more reliable connection and contacting of its contact wires.
In regards to claim 16, UENO, in view of SHIRAISHI, teaches the electric motor according to claim 15:
wherein said electric coils are electrically wired to one another[0035] and an insulation displacement contact (Fig 2; 41a)acting as an interconnection point for a respective one of said wire portions[0041].
UENO does not teach:
said electric coils have wire portions, and each of said contact elements has an insulation displacement contact.
SHIRAISHI teaches:
wherein said electric coils (Fig 1; 12)are electrically wired to one another[0050-0052] and have wire portions(Fig 1; 12a/b), and each of said contact elements (Fig 1; 13)has an insulation displacement contact (Fig 2/3; 131)acting as an interconnection point for a respective one of said wire portions(Fig 1; 12b)[0054].
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In regards to claim 17, UENO, in view of SHIRAISHI, teaches the electric motor according to claim 15:
wherein said plurality of one-piece busbars (Fig 2; 41)each have one end region (Fig 2; 41b)disposed parallel to said rotor axis(Fig 2; Z), end regions (Fig 2; 41b)are guided through said passage opening(Fig 2; 503), and all of said end regions (Fig 2; 41b)are supported on one of said insertion pockets(Fig 2; 503) ( The compression ribs 443 are provided to enhance the shear strength in the molding shrinkage direction of the overmolding 42 in view of the fact that the positional relationship between the plurality of terminal passage opening 503 in the bearing shield 50, thus they must lie on the periphery [0062]).
In regards to claim 18, UENO, in view of SHIRAISHI, teaches the electric motor according to claim 17:
wherein one of said end regions (Fig 3; 41b)is disposed above said insulation displacement (Fig 3; 41a)contact or said clamping contact.
Claim(s) 19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over UENO (US 20200195083 A1), in view of SHIRAISHI (US 20190386535 A1), in further view of DOSCH (US 20210057951 A1).
In regards to claim 19, UENO, in view of SHIRAISHI, teaches the electric motor according to claim 17.
Combination UENO/SHIRAISHI does not teach:
which further comprises a reinforcement rib formed on said insertion pocket, said reinforcement rib being perpendicular to said insertion pocket.
DOSCH teaches:
which further comprises a reinforcement rib (Fig 3b; 44)formed on said insertion pocket(Fig 3b; 30), said reinforcement rib (Fig 3b; 44)being perpendicular to said insertion pocket(Fig 3b; 30)[0042].
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Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify combination UENO/ SHIRAISHI by adding a reinforcement rib taught by DOSCH in order have a more reliable connection and contacting of its contact wires [0005 DOSCH].
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 21 is 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.
Regarding claim 21, The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
The prior art teaches:
compression ribs
However, the prior art does not teach: said compression ribs are at least partially deformed by insertion into said passage opening. (The underlined is allowable subject matter.)
Claim 21 is objected to, and not rejected, because the limitation of partial deformed compression ribs upon insertion is too specific which makes it novel.
Claims 21 are objected to, and not rejected, because they depend from a claim that contains allowable subject matter.
As allowable subject matter has been indicated, applicant's reply must either comply with all formal requirements or specifically traverse each requirement not complied with. See 37 CFR 1.111(b) and MPEP § 707.07(a).
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 NICHOLAS L SETZER whose telephone number is (571)272-3021. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm EST.
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, Oluseye Iwarere can be reached at (571) 270-5112. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/N.L.S./ Examiner, Art Unit 2834
/OLUSEYE IWARERE/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2834
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