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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 05/15/2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d).
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
The following title is suggested: “ROTOR WITH END DISCS WITH PREGRESSIVELY DECREASING AXIAL DISTANCE IN BETEWEEN.”
Claim Objections
Claim 5 objected to under 37 CFR 1.75(c) as being in improper form because a multiple dependent claim 2,3 or 4. See MPEP § 608.01(n). Accordingly, the claim has not been further treated on the merits.
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.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 4 and 13 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 pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
Regarding claim 4, A broad range or limitation together with a narrow range or limitation that falls within the broad range or limitation (in the same claim) may be considered indefinite if the resulting claim does not clearly set forth the metes and bounds of the patent protection desired. See MPEP § 2173.05(c). In the present instance, claim 4 recites the broad recitation “occupied by a filler “, and the claim also recites “in particular a glue or a resin “ which is the narrower statement of the range/limitation. The claim(s) are considered indefinite because there is a question or doubt as to whether the feature introduced by such narrower language is (a) merely exemplary of the remainder of the claim, and therefore not required, or (b) a required feature of the claims.
Re-claim 13 recites, a main permanent magnet (6) having a South-North orientation.”, as first recitation which is confusing if it is the already recited limitation of “main permanent magnet” recited in claim 12 or if it is previously recited “main permanent magnet” in cliam 12 or claim 1.
Furthermore, claim 13 in multiple locations recites “ a following main permanent magnet having South-North orientation” as first recitation, which is confusing if it is already recited limitation or a new limitation.
Inventorship
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a), the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned at the time any inventions covered therein were made absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and invention dates of each claim that was not commonly owned at the time a later invention was made in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(c) and potential pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(e), (f) or (g) prior art under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 1 allowed. 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.”
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Re-claim 1, recites “ inter alia”: 1) A rotor (4) for a rotary electric machine (1) and comprising: a support cylinder (8), which has an outer surface (9) and a central cavity (12);a plurality of main permanent magnets (6), which are axially oriented, rest on the outer surface (9) of the support cylinder (8) and are arranged beside one another around a rotation axis (3) to form a closed ring; and two end discs (14), which are arranged at the axially opposite ends of the support cylinder (8) and define lateral edges of an annular seat containing the main permanent magnets (6) ;wherein a radially outer portion of each end disc (14) extending beyond the outer surface (9) of the support cylinder (8) is arranged at a non-zero axial distance from the corresponding main permanent magnets (6);wherein the axial distance (D) is not constant and progressively decreases from the outside to the inside.
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The prior art of record, teach rotors with permanent magnets and end plates/discs, but they all fail to teach the limitations of claim 1 specially two end discs (14), which are arranged at the axially opposite ends of the support cylinder (8) and define lateral edges of an annular seat containing the main permanent magnets (6) ;wherein a radially outer portion of each end disc (14) extending beyond the outer surface (9) of the support cylinder (8) is arranged at a non-zero axial distance from the corresponding main permanent magnets (6);wherein the axial distance (D) is not constant and progressively decreases from the outside to the inside.”
The prior art of record, ip.com npl and patent search, ai search references of record alone or together fail to suggest or teach alone or combined the combination of limitations as indicted above.
Closest prior art of record, US 20240146131 “Coppola”, which teaches rotor ends with end rings having slanted structure and do not meet as indicated in claim 1, they fail to teach two end discs (14), which are arranged at the axially opposite ends of the support cylinder (8) and define lateral edges of an annular seat containing the main permanent magnets (6) ;wherein a radially outer portion of each end disc (14) extending beyond the outer surface (9) of the support cylinder (8) is arranged at a non-zero axial distance from the corresponding main permanent magnets (6);wherein the axial distance (D) is not constant and progressively decreases from the outside to the inside.
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Another prior art, Shiratori (US PG Pub 20020125780) teach end discs 8, which fail to teach limitations of claim 1 above.
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Other prior art teach end rings, but they all fail to meet each other axially or forming the angle, non-zero axial distance, where D is progressively decreasing from outside to inside.
Claims 2-13 are going to be allowed based on dependency from claim 1, and after being fixed for 112 issues as indicated above for some.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure in PTO892.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MAGED M ALMAWRI whose telephone number is (313)446-6565. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday - Thursday.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Christopher M. Koehler can be reached on 5712723560. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/MAGED M ALMAWRI/ Primary Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2834