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
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.
Claim 15 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Rotharmel et al. (US-5305860).
Regarding claim 15, Rotharmel et al. discloses providing) a valve arrangement (fig 1-9, 10) comprising: - a valve seat member (52) adapted in size and shape to define a valve seat and a flow-through opening (at least 33); - a valve member (at least 136/142) adapted to be displaceable relative the valve seat along a displacement axis in response to a damping fluid pressure force overcoming an opening force threshold (col. 9 lines 52-65, at least when the pressure is great enough to overcome 166), wherein the opening force is provided by damping fluid flow pressure acting on an inlet side of the valve member (col. 9 lines 39-50, wherein the inlet has been interpreted at or near 142 in an upward direction), and the opening force threshold being at least partly adjustable by a force actuator (86 and col. 1, lines 13-16, at least adjustable valving), - wherein the valve member (136/142) and the valve seat member (52) provide a chamfer restriction extending to the valve seat (figs 7 and 9, col. 8, lines 23-29), the chamfer restriction provided with an opening cross-section which decreases from an inner lateral position to an outer lateral position relative the displacement axis (figs 7 and 9, conical shape), ii. adjusting the valve member such that - for a first damping fluid flow, the damping fluid pressure force displacing the valve member from the valve seat acts on a first pressure area portion (52 at or near inlet) on the inlet side of the valve member (at least when 136/33 is partially open or opening), and - for a second damping fluid flow greater than the first damping fluid flow, the first pressure area portion decreases from a first area size to a smaller second area size (figs 7 and 9 at least conical surface 52).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-14 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: As to claim 1, the closest prior art of record, Rotharmel et al. (US-5305860), discloses a valve arrangement ( at least fig 9) for regulating damping fluid flow of a shock absorber (Abstract), comprising: - a valve seat member (52) adapted in size and shape to define a valve seat (col. 8, lines 23-29 and at least figs 1, 7, and 9) and a flow-through opening (at least 33); - a valve member (fig 7, 136/142) adapted to be displaceable relative the valve seat along a displacement axis during use in response to a damping fluid pressure force overcoming an opening force threshold (col. 9 lines 52-65), wherein the damping fluid pressure force is provided by damping fluid pressure acting on an inlet side of the valve member (col. 9 lines 39-50, wherein the inlet has been interpreted at or near 142 in an upward direction), the opening force threshold being at least partly adjustable by a force actuator (col. 1, lines 13-16, at least adjustable valving), wherein - the valve member (136/142) and the valve seat member (52) are adapted to provide a chamfer restriction extending to the valve seat (col. 8, lines 23-29), the chamfer restriction provided with an opening cross-section which decreases from an inner lateral position to an outer lateral position relative the displacement axis (fig 7 and 9, conical surface), - a chamfer restriction angle between a first chamfer restriction surface provided by the valve seat member (52) and a second chamfer restriction surface provided by the valve member (136/142) (fig 7 and 9, and col. 8, lines 23-29 and shown in FIG. 9, the conical peripheral surface 142 cooperatively mates with, and sealingly engages, a reciprocally angled seat 52 in the piston stop axial passage 33, also shown in FIG. 10). In other words, Rotharmel et al. discloses a first and second chamfer restriction interface with a reciprocally angled or a zero restriction angle between them.
As to claim 1, the prior art of record, taken alone or in combination, fails to disclose or render obvious a valve member adapted to be displaceable relative the valve seat along a displacement axis during use in response to a damping fluid pressure force overcoming an opening force threshold, wherein the damping fluid pressure force is provided by damping fluid pressure acting on an inlet side of the valve member, the opening force threshold being at least partly adjustable by a force actuator, and wherein a non-zero chamfer restriction angle between a first chamfer restriction surface provided by the valve seat member and a second chamfer restriction surface provided by the valve member in a lateral direction is equal to or less than 45 degrees.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see p. 1-3, filed 7/24/2026, with respect to claims 1-14 have been fully considered and are persuasive. The rejection of claims 1-14 has been withdrawn. Regarding claim 15, Applicant has not argued against the rejection of art of record with regards to Rotharmel et al. (US-5305860). With regards to Rotharmel et al., Applicant argues that the prior art lacks wherein a non-zero chamfer restriction angle between a first chamfer restriction surface provided by the valve seat member and a second chamfer restriction surface provided by the valve member in a lateral direction is equal to or less than 45 degrees because Rotharmel et al. discloses a first and second chamfer restriction interface with a zero restriction angle between them. Examiner notes that the amended limitations regarding the non-zero restriction angle and the shock absorber are not required by claim 15.
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 JAMES K HSIAO whose telephone number is (571)272-6259. The examiner can normally be reached 9-5, Monday-Friday.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Robert Siconolfi can be reached at 571-272-7124. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JAMES K HSIAO/Examiner, Art Unit 3616
