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 contact ratio (y) must be shown in the range of 1.05 to 1.08 or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). Currently Fig. 3 shows this ratio equal to 1.39. 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 § 112
Claim 2 is 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 2 recites the limitation "the linear track groove". There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim because a previously recited linear track groove is not identified as “the linear track groove”.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
Claim(s) 1 & 3-5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Sugiyama, US 2020/0063802. Sugiyama discloses a plunging type constant velocity universal joint (1), comprising:
an outer joint member (2) comprising a cylindrical inner peripheral surface (6) having six linear track grooves (7) extending along an axial direction;
an inner joint member (3) comprising a spherical outer peripheral surface (8) having six linear track grooves (9) being opposed to the linear track grooves of the outer joint member and extending along the axial direction, the inner joint member having a coupling hole (13) at a center portion thereof for coupling a shaft (27);
six torque transmission balls (4) incorporated between the linear track grooves of the outer joint member and the linear track grooves of the inner joint member; and
a cage (5), which is configured to retain the torque transmission balls, and comprises a spherical outer peripheral surface (11) and a spherical inner peripheral surface (12), which are guided in contact with the cylindrical inner peripheral surface of the outer joint member and the spherical outer peripheral surface of the inner joint member (paragraph 0032), respectively,
wherein a curvature center (O2) of the spherical outer peripheral surface and a curvature center (O1) of the spherical inner peripheral surface of the cage are offset toward opposite sides in the axial direction (paragraph 0032) with respect to a joint center (O),
wherein the plunging type constant velocity universal joint can be used at a normal operating angle of from 8° to 12° (paragraph 0048),
wherein a ratio DBALL/DSPCD of a diameter (DBALL) of the torque transmission ball to a
spline pitch circle diameter (DSPCD) of the coupling hole of the inner joint member is set within a range of from 0.80 to 0.86 (see Table 2, which discloses a ratio DBALL/Ds is 0.79-0.85 and Fig. 1b shows Ds is a dimension just slightly larger than DSPCD),
wherein a contact angle (a) of the torque transmission ball and the linear track groove is set within a range of from 32° to 35° (Table 1), and
w wherein a contact ratio (y) of the torque transmission ball and the linear track groove is set within a range of from 1.05 to 1.08 (Table 2).
As to claim 3, Fig. 1a shows a ratio F/spline hole (13) diameter of an offset amount (F) of the curvature center of the spherical outer peripheral surface and the curvature center of the spherical inner peripheral surface of the cage to the spline pitch circle diameter is set within a range of from 0.18 to 0.19.
As to clam 4, at paragraph 0048, the maximum operating angle of the plunging type constant velocity universal joint (1) is disclosed as including the range of 30-35 degrees.
As to claim 5, paragraphs 0049-0050 and Fig. 8 disclose a drive shaft (20), comprising: the plunging type constant velocity universal joint (1) mounted on an in-board side; and a fixed type constant velocity universal joint (21) comprising eight torque transmission balls (24) and being mounted on an out-board side.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 2 is 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
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Greg Binda whose telephone number is (571)272-7077. The examiner can normally be reached 9:30-5:30 et.
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, Matthew Troutman can be reached at 571-270-3654. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/Greg Binda/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3679