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 .
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 1-6, 9-14, 17-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Watson [US Pub # 2019/0233041].
Regarding claim 1: Watson shows an actuator comprising: a first portion (62) and a second portion (58) movable linearly with respect to each other between retracted and extended positions; at least one electronic component carried by the first portion (62); a wiring support structure (60) carried by the second portion (58) such that the first portion (62) and the support structure will be closer together in the retracted position (see fig 2) and farther apart in the extended position (see fig 1); and a wiring pathway carrying electrical wiring (the wire inside the recoil 96) in electrical communication with the at least one electronic component ( the helical path of the 96), the wiring pathway extending from the first portion (62) to the support structure.
Regarding claim 2: Watson shows wherein the second portion (58) rotates with respect to the first portion (62).
Regarding claim 3: Watson shows wherein the first portion (62) is a ball screw nut and the second portion (58) is a ball screw shaft.
Regarding claim 4: Watson shows wherein the at least one electronic component (70) is mounted to a surface of the second portion.
Regarding claim 5: Watson shows wherein the wiring pathway has a helical form (see fig 1).
Regarding claim 6: Watson shows wherein the wiring pathway is semi-rigid (wire is semi-rigid component).
Regarding claim 9: Watson shows wherein the wiring pathway (96) comprises a semi-rigid ribbon cable formed in a helical shape.
Regarding claim 10: Watson shows wherein at least one additional electrical component is mounted on a surface of the ribbon cable.
Regarding claim 11: Watson shows wherein the wiring pathway has a formable spline extending alongside a plurality of conductors.
Regarding claim 12: Watson shows wherein the support structure (60) comprises a collar mounted on the second portion (58) at a selected axial location, the second portion being rotatable with respect to the collar (60).
Regarding claim 13: Watson shows wherein a connector (94) is mounted on the collar for connection of external wiring.
Regarding claim 14: Watson shows wherein the electrical wiring (96) of the wiring pathway is attached to and extends through the collar (60).
Regarding claim 15: Watson shows wherein the at least one electronic component comprises a sensor (70).
Regarding claim 17: Watson shows An actuator comprising: a first portion (62) and a second portion (58) movable linearly with respect to each other between retracted and extended positions; a wiring support structure (60) carried by the second portion (58) such that the first portion and the support structure will be closer together in the retracted position and farther apart in the extended position (see fig 2); and a wiring pathway carrying electrical wiring (the wiring inside the recoil 96) in electrical communication with at least one electronic component (70) mounted on the wiring pathway, the wiring pathway extending from the first portion to the support structure.
Regarding claim 18: Watson shows wherein wiring pathway (96) comprises a semi-rigid ribbon cable formed in a helical shape (see fig 2).
Regarding claim 19: Watson shows wherein the support structure comprises a collar (60) mounted on the second portion (58) at a selected axial location, the second portion being rotatable with respect to the collar.
Regarding claim 20: Watson shows an actuator comprising: a nut (62) and a shaft (58) rotatable with respect to one another such that one of the nut and the shaft moves axially with respect to the other; at least one electronic component (70) carried by the nut (62); a wiring support structure ( 60) carried by the shaft such that the nut (62) and the support structure will be closer together in the retracted position and farther apart in the extended position, the support structure including a collar mounted on the shaft at a selected axial location; and a wiring pathway carrying electrical wiring (the recoil housing of 96 ) in electrical communication with the at least one electronic component, the wiring pathway having a helical shape and extending from the first portion to the support structure (see fig 2).
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 7 and 8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Watson [US Pub # 2019/0233041] in view of Abouchar [US Pat # 7,001,184].
Regarding clams 7 and 8: Watson does not show comprises a polymeric spring carrying a plurality of conductors, wherein the polymeric spring defines a channel in which the conductors are located. However Abouchar a polymeric spring carrying a plurality of conductors (43), wherein the polymeric spring defines a channel in which the conductors are located (see fig 5).
It would have been obvious to someone having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the effective filling date to have wiring with conductors to carry data signals and providing power or establishing grounding connections.
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.
Claim 16 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Watson [US Pub # 2019/0233041] in view of Zergiebel [CN # 110507379].
Regarding claim 16: Watson does not disclose wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a strain gauge, an accelerometer, a thermocouple, and a gyroscope. However Zergiebel shows comprises at least one of a strain gauge (296).
It would have been obvious to someone having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the effecting filling date to have added strain gauge sensor to monitor stress between the the nut and the shaft.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed on 12/04/2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
In response to applicant argument that Watson failed to show a first portion (62) and a second portion (58) movable linearly with respect to each other between retracted and extended positions least one electronic component is carried by the first portion (62).
The positions of element (62) in figures 1 and figure clearly show that element (62) moves with respect to element (58).
In response to applicant argument that Watson failed to show a wiring support structure is carried by the second portion such that the first portion and the support structure will be closer together in the retracted position and farther apart in the extended position.
Figure 2 shows a wiring support structure (wire of 96) is carried by the second portion (52) such that the first portion (62) and the support structure will be closer Figure 2 shows the retraction of the wire support structure making closer together to the first portion (62). And farther in the extending position.
In response to applicant argument that Watson failed to show at least one electronic component carried by the first portion." Nut 62, however, does not carry any sort of "electric component." It is simply a fixed nut through which screw 58 rotates.
Nut (62) is not fixed nut, it is movable on the screw (58) (see fig 1 and Figure 2), and the wire is attached and carried by the nut (62) (wire is considered electronic component under the broadest reasonable interpretation).
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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.
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/ZAKARIA ELAHMADI/
Examiner, Art Unit 3618