Drawings
The drawings are objected to because at Fig. 5 reference character 25 fails to indicate a reinforcing element. 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 § 102
Claim 12 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Blandford, US 4,447,217. Blandford discloses a predetermined breaking body (10) of a shaft (col. 2, lines 37 & 42) of a machine (col. 1, line 7), comprising:
a first sub-body (11);
a second sub-body (12); and
a predetermined breaking element (60, 43), wherein
the first and second sub-bodies are connected to one another, so as to
conjointly rotate, along a longitudinal center axis of the predetermined
breaking body via the predetermined breaking element (see Figs. 1-2),
the predetermined breaking element is anisotropic, such that during
transmission of a torque between the sub-bodies, the predetermined breaking
element yields in a first torsion direction under a first predetermined ultimate
torsional moment (col. 4, lines 33-36) and yields in a second torsion direction opposed to the first torsion direction under a second predetermined ultimate torsional moment (col. 4, lines 28-32), and
the predetermined ultimate torsional moments differ in size (col. 4, lines 28-36).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 13-22 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Dinitz discloses a metallic predetermined breaking body (10) comprising a predetermined breaking element with material recess (24, 26).
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/Greg Binda/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3679