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 Objections
Claim 9 is objected to because of the following informalities: in claim 9, line 2, the phrase “out” should be changed to “outer”. Appropriate correction is required.
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:
TRANSMISSION STRUCTURE WITH LIMITING RAIL AND AIR COMPRESSOR
Claim Interpretation
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
This application includes one or more claim limitations that do not use the word “means,” but are nonetheless being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because the claim limitation(s) uses a generic placeholder that is coupled with functional language without reciting sufficient structure to perform the recited function and the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier. Such claim limitation(s) is/are: “transmission body”, “driving mechanism” and “device” in claims 1-2, 8 and “guide member” in claims 4-6 and “mechanism body” in claims 7-10 and “transmission connection mechanisms” in claim 8 and “driving member” in claim 10.
Because this/these claim limitation(s) is/are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, it/they is/are being interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification as performing the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
If applicant does not intend to have this/these limitation(s) interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, applicant may: (1) amend the claim limitation(s) to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph (e.g., by reciting sufficient structure to perform the claimed function); or (2) present a sufficient showing that the claim limitation(s) recite(s) sufficient structure to perform the claimed function so as to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Koh (KR20180120944A).
Claim 1: Koh discloses a transmission structure comprising a rotating shaft (210) and a transmission body (320), wherein an end of the rotating shaft is provided with a limiting rail (311), and another end of the rotating shaft is configured to be connected to a driving mechanism (200), and wherein an first end of the transmission body (320) movably cooperates with the limiting rail so that when the rotating shaft rotates, the transmission body reciprocates along an axis of the rotating shaft under limit of the limiting rail (see Figs. 2-3), and another second end of the transmission body is configured to be connected to a device (430) that requires linear reciprocation to do work.
Claim 2: Koh further discloses that the first end of the transmission body is symmetrically provided with transmission members (Fig. 3, note 322); the limiting rail extends in a circumferential direction of the rotating shaft (Figs. 2-3); the limiting rail extends reciprocally in an axial direction of the rotating shaft (Fig. 3); and the transmission members movably cooperate with the limiting rail (Examiner notes that as the shaft rotates, the transmission member will move up and down with respect to the rail).
Claim(s) 1-2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Li (CN107061243A).
Claim 1: Li discloses a transmission structure comprising a rotating shaft (Fig. 1, 31) and a transmission body (Fig. 1, 51), wherein an end of the rotating shaft is provided with a limiting rail (Fig. 3, note 41), and another end of the rotating shaft is configured to be connected to a driving mechanism (3), and wherein an first end of the transmission body (51) movably cooperates with the limiting rail so that when the rotating shaft rotates, the transmission body reciprocates along an axis of the rotating shaft under limit of the limiting rail (see Fig. 2), and another second end of the transmission body is configured to be connected to a device (Fig. 2, note piston membrane 21) that requires linear reciprocation to do work.
Claim 2: Li further discloses that the first end of the transmission body is symmetrically provided with transmission members (Fig. 2, note 52/53); the limiting rail extends in a circumferential direction of the rotating shaft (Fig. 3); the limiting rail extends reciprocally in an axial direction of the rotating shaft (Fig. 3); and the transmission members movably cooperate with the limiting rail (Examiner notes that as the shaft rotates, the transmission member will rotate and move up and down with respect to the rail).
Claim(s) 1-2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Noble (US 1,367,827).
Claim 1: Noble discloses a transmission structure comprising a rotating shaft (m) and a transmission body (note cylindrical portion of f containing balls, k), wherein an end of the rotating shaft is provided with a limiting rail (Fig. 3; j’), and another end of the rotating shaft is configured to be connected to a driving mechanism (p), and wherein an first end of the transmission body movably cooperates with the limiting rail so that when the rotating shaft rotates, the transmission body reciprocates along an axis of the rotating shaft under limit of the limiting rail (Fig. 1), and another second end of the transmission body is configured to be connected to a device (note piston end portion of f) that requires linear reciprocation to do work.
Claim 2: Noble further discloses that the first end of the transmission body is symmetrically provided with transmission members (Fig. 1, note k); the limiting rail extends in a circumferential direction of the rotating shaft (Fig. 3); the limiting rail extends reciprocally in an axial direction of the rotating shaft (Figs. 1 and 3); and the transmission members movably cooperate with the limiting rail (Examiner notes that as the shaft rotates, the transmission members will roll and move with respect to the rail).
Claim 3: Noble further discloses that the transmission body comprises a cavity (note cavity within k) through which the rotating shaft extends and a passage (note passage for k inside f) in which the transmission member is placed, and wherein the passage is in communication with the cavity (Fig. 1), and wherein the transmission member is fit tightly into the passage (Fig. 1), a top of the passage is covered by a fastener (Fig. 1, Examiner viewing “fastener” broadly to encompass elements g and its top plate cover which is situated near o; see Figure below; as viewed from above, the pressure plate element will “cover” the top of the passage) comprising a hoop body and a pressure plate connected to the hoop body (see Figure below), and wherein the hoop body is fit over an outer surface of the transmission body (see Figure below), and the pressure plate covers the top of the passage (see Figure below).
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Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 4-10 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: regarding claim 4, the prior art of record does not further disclose or reasonably teach in combination a guide assembly comprising a first guide member and a second guide member in sliding or rolling fit with the first guide member, wherein the first guide member is arranged parallel to the rotating shaft, the second guide member is arranged on the transmission body, and the hoop body comprises an engaging groove or an engaging hole cooperating with the second guide member.
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.”
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NATHAN C ZOLLINGER whose telephone number is (571)270-7815. The examiner can normally be reached Generally M-F 9-4 EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Essama Omgba can be reached at 469-295-9278. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/NATHAN C ZOLLINGER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3746