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 1.84(h)(3). Hatching must be used to indicate section portions of an object, and must be made by regularly spaced oblique parallel lines spaced sufficiently apart to enable the lines to be distinguished without difficulty. Figures 1-4 must have crosshatching.
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.
Specification
The specification is objected to as failing to provide proper antecedent basis for the claimed subject matter. See 37 CFR 1.75(d)(1) and MPEP § 608.01(o). Correction of the following is required:
The limitation “central opening”, “first enlarged portion” and “second enlarged portion” in claims 6 and 10 are not found in the specification.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
Claims 6-11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 6 and 10 recite “a first enlarged portion” and “a second enlarged portion”. It is unclear relative to which elements the portions are enlarged. For example, are they enlarged relative to an axially central portion of the central hole/opening?
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.
Claims 1-4 and 12-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Hu CN 215058932.
Re clm 1, Hu discloses a hub-bearing assembly (Fig. 1) comprising: a rotation axis; a stationary radially outer ring (1); a flanged hub (3) extending into an interior of the radially outer ring and configured to rotate around the rotation axis and relative to the radially outer ring; a radially inner ring (2 and 11) mounted on the flanged hub and axially abutting a portion of the flanged hub (where 11 abuts flange); a toothed sleeve (4) mounted axially inward of and adjacent to the radially inner ring, the toothed sleeve being rotationally fixed relative to the flanged hub (via splines at D, Fig. 3 and 4); an auxiliary ring (15) mounted on the flanged hub in contact with the toothed sleeve, wherein the flanged hub includes an axially inner rolled edge (left end of 3, Fig. 1) in contact with the auxiliary ring and configured to maintain a preload on the radially inner ring (the auxiliary ring is at least capable of performing this function); and wherein the auxiliary ring is configured to accommodate deformations induced by a formation of the rolled edge (the auxiliary ring is at least capable of performing this function).
Re clm 2 and 13, Hu further discloses the auxiliary ring has a radially outer cylindrical surface (top of 15, Fig. 3), a radially inner cylindrical surface (right side of bottom surface of 15) parallel to the radially outer cylindrical surface, an axially inner annular surface (left vertical surface of 15) , an axially outer annular surface (right vertical surface of 15) parallel to the axially inner annular surface and a curvilinear surface (bottom left corner of 15 which has an arc) between the axially inner annular surface and the radially inner cylindrical surface.
Re clm 3 and 14, Hu further discloses the toothed sleeve includes an annular recess (at lower left portion of 4, Fig. 3) forming a seat for the auxiliary ring, the seat having a radially inwardly facing cylindrical surface and an axially inwardly facing annular surface, and wherein the auxiliary ring is mounted in the recess (shown in Fig. 3).
Re clm 4, Hu further discloses the auxiliary ring and the toothed sleeve are configured such that a radial gap exists between the inwardly facing cylindrical surface of the toothed sleeve and the radially outer cylindrical surface of the auxiliary ring (gap shown between top of 15 and surface of 4 facing top of 15, Fig. 3).
Re clm 12, Hu discloses a method of assembling a bearing hub assembly (Fig. 1) comprising: inserting a flanged hub (3) into a stationary radially outer ring (1); mounting a radially inner ring (2 and 11) on the flanged hub in axial abutment with a portion of the flanged hub (where rightmost portion of 11 abuts left lower wall of flange of hub 3); mounting a toothed sleeve (4) on the flanged hub axially inward of and adjacent to the radially inner ring such that the toothed sleeve is rotationally fixed relative to the flanged hub (via splines on shaft at left end of 3, Fig. 3 and 4); mounting an auxiliary ring (15) on the flanged hub in contact with the toothed sleeve, forming a rolled edge (leftmost portion of 3 that contacts 15) on the flanged hub such that the rolled edge contacts the auxiliar ring and maintains a preload on the radially inner ring and accommodates deformations induced by a formation of the rolled edge.
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.
Claims 1-5 and 12-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hu CN 215058932 in view of Kamikawa U.S. 2008/0258541.
Assuming Hu does not disclose a preloaded bearing:
Re clm 1, Hu discloses a hub-bearing assembly (Fig. 1) comprising: a rotation axis; a stationary radially outer ring (1); a flanged hub (3) extending into an interior of the radially outer ring and configured to rotate around the rotation axis and relative to the radially outer ring; a radially inner ring (2 and 11) mounted on the flanged hub and axially abutting a portion of the flanged hub (where 11 abuts flange); a toothed sleeve (4) mounted axially inward of and adjacent to the radially inner ring, the toothed sleeve being rotationally fixed relative to the flanged hub (via splines at D, Fig. 3 and 4); an auxiliary ring (15) mounted on the flanged hub in contact with the toothed sleeve, wherein the flanged hub includes an axially inner rolled edge (left end of 3, Fig. 1) in contact with the auxiliary ring; and wherein the auxiliary ring is configured to accommodate deformations induced by a formation of the rolled edge (the auxiliary ring is at least capable of performing this function).
Although Hu shows a well-known bearing with a rolled edge which is known to provide preloads, Hu does not explicitly state that the axially inner rolled edge is configured to maintain a preload on the radially inner ring.
Kamikawa teaches a similar hub device in which the axially inner rolled edge (15, Fig. 2) is configured to maintain a preload on the radially inner ring ([0029]).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify Hu and provide the axially inner rolled edge is configured to maintain a preload on the radially inner ring for the purpose of ensuring all the bearing components remain axially fixed while ensuring an appropriate preload in the bearing.
Re clm 2 and 13, Hu further discloses the auxiliary ring has a radially outer cylindrical surface (top of 15, Fig. 3), a radially inner cylindrical surface (right side of bottom surface of 15) parallel to the radially outer cylindrical surface, an axially inner annular surface (left vertical surface of 15) , an axially outer annular surface (right vertical surface of 15) parallel to the axially inner annular surface and a curvilinear surface (bottom left corner of 15 which has an arc) between the axially inner annular surface and the radially inner cylindrical surface.
Re clm 3 and 14, Hu further discloses the toothed sleeve includes an annular recess (at lower left portion of 4, Fig. 3) forming a seat for the auxiliary ring, the seat having a radially inwardly facing cylindrical surface and an axially inwardly facing annular surface, and wherein the auxiliary ring is mounted in the recess (shown in Fig. 3).
Re clm 4, Hu further discloses the auxiliary ring and the toothed sleeve are configured such that a radial gap exists between the inwardly facing cylindrical surface of the toothed sleeve and the radially outer cylindrical surface of the auxiliary ring (gap shown between top of 15 and surface of 4 facing top of 15, Fig. 3).
Re clm 5, Hu does not disclose a fit between the radially inner cylindrical surface of the auxiliary ring and a radially outer cylindrical surface of the flanged hub varies from a diameter clearance of 0.01 mm to a diameter interference of 0.05 mm.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify Hu and provide a fit between the radially inner cylindrical surface of the auxiliary ring and a radially outer cylindrical surface of the flanged hub varies from a diameter clearance of 0.01 mm to a diameter interference of 0.05 mm, since it has been held that where the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art, it is not inventive to discover the optimum or workable ranges by routine experimentation." In re Aller, 220 F.2d 454, 456, 105 USPQ 233, 235 (CCPA 1955). See MPEP 2144.05(II)(A).
The fit between parts, especially the radial fit between bearing and wheel hub components, is a well-known result effective variable. On the one hand, if the fit is too tight, then there is a risk of damage to the components during assembly. On the other hand, if the fit is too loose, then there is a risk of undesired movement between components leading to unwanted noise and/or premature wear.
Re clm 12, Hu discloses a method of assembling a bearing hub assembly (Fig. 1) comprising: inserting a flanged hub (3) into a stationary radially outer ring (1); mounting a radially inner ring (2 and 11) on the flanged hub in axial abutment with a portion of the flanged hub (where rightmost portion of 11 abuts left lower wall of flange of hub 3); mounting a toothed sleeve (4) on the flanged hub axially inward of and adjacent to the radially inner ring such that the toothed sleeve is rotationally fixed relative to the flanged hub (via splines on shaft at left end of 3, Fig. 3 and 4); mounting an auxiliary ring (15) on the flanged hub in contact with the toothed sleeve, forming a rolled edge (leftmost portion of 3 that contacts 15) on the flanged hub such that the rolled edge contacts the auxiliar ring and accommodates deformations induced by a formation of the rolled edge.
Although Hu shows a well-known bearing with a rolled edge which is known to provide preloads, Hu does not explicitly state that the axially inner rolled edge is configured to maintain a preload on the radially inner ring.
Kamikawa teaches a similar hub device in which the axially inner rolled edge (15, Fig. 2) is configured to maintain a preload on the radially inner ring ([0029]).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify Hu and provide the axially inner rolled edge is configured to maintain a preload on the radially inner ring for the purpose of ensuring all the bearing components remain axially fixed while ensuring an appropriate preload in the bearing.
Claim 5 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hu CN 215058932 as applied to claim 4 above.
Hu discloses all the claimed subject matter as described above.
Re clm 5, Hu does not disclose a fit between the radially inner cylindrical surface of the auxiliary ring and a radially outer cylindrical surface of the flanged hub varies from a diameter clearance of 0.01 mm to a diameter interference of 0.05 mm.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify Hu and provide a fit between the radially inner cylindrical surface of the auxiliary ring and a radially outer cylindrical surface of the flanged hub varies from a diameter clearance of 0.01 mm to a diameter interference of 0.05 mm, since it has been held that where the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art, it is not inventive to discover the optimum or workable ranges by routine experimentation." In re Aller, 220 F.2d 454, 456, 105 USPQ 233, 235 (CCPA 1955). See MPEP 2144.05(II)(A).
The fit between parts, especially the radial fit between bearing and wheel hub components is a well-known result effective variable. On the one hand, if the fit is too tight, then there is a risk of damage to the components during assembly. On the other hand, if the fit is too loose, then there is a risk of undesired movement between components leading to unwanted noise or premature wear.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 6-11 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
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/ALAN B WAITS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3617