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 . This Office Action is responsive to the Applicant's communication filed May 18, 2026. In view of this communication and the amendment concurrently filed: claims 1-18 were previously pending; no claims were cancelled and no claims were added by amendment; and thus, claims 1-18 are now pending in the application.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed May 18, 2026 have been fully considered.
The Applicant's first point (page 9 of Remarks) amends the title to overcome the specification objection. The Examiner agrees with the Applicant’s amendment; thus, the objection is removed.
The Applicant's second point (page 9-10 of Remarks) amends claim 1 to include the new limitation, “wherein an axial thickness of the body is the same as an axial thickness of the extension part.” The new limitation necessitates new grounds of rejection.
The Applicant's third point (page 10-11 of Remarks) amends claim 17 to include the new limitation, “first groove and a second groove spaced apart from the first groove.” The new limitation necessitates new grounds of rejection.
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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 2-5 and 7-16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over IKURA (US 20130113313 A1) in view of LEE (US 20220069659 A1).
Regarding claim 1, IKURA teaches:
A motor (Fig 1; 100)comprising:
a stator(Fig 1; 20);
a rotor (Fig 1; 6)disposed inside the stator(Fig 1; 20)[0033];
a shaft(Fig 1; 9) coupled to the rotor(Fig 1; 6)[0035]; and a bus bar (Fig 1; 30)disposed on the stator(Fig 1; 20)[0033],
wherein the bus bar (Fig 4; 30)includes a bus bar holder (Fig 4; 33)and a plurality of terminals(Fig 4; 31U/V/W) disposed on the bus bar holder(Fig 4; 33),
wherein each of the terminals (Fig 4; 31U/V/W) includes a body (Fig 4; 31b) disposed in the bus bar holder(Fig 4; 33), an extension part (Fig 4; 32’W) extending inward from the body (Fig 10;31b), and a protrusion part (Fig 4; 32”W)protruding in an axial direction from an end portion of the extension part (Fig 4; 32’W)(the radial portion has been labeled 32’W and the axial portion has been labeled 32”W for ease of understanding),
wherein the body (Fig 4; 31W), the extension part (Fig 4; 32’W), and the protrusion part (Fig 4; 32”W)are formed integrally(Shown in Fig 4),
the body (Fig 10; 31W)and the extension part (Fig 10; 32’W)of each of the terminals are disposed on the same virtual plane(shown in Fig 10), and
wherein the protrusion part (Fig 4; 32”W) of each of the terminals is disposed to be exposed from the bus bar holder(Fig 4; 33) (Shown in Fig 4).
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IKURA does not teach:
wherein an axial thickness of the body is the same as an axial thickness of the extension part.
LEE teaches:
wherein an axial thickness of the body (Fig 5; 121a) is the same as an axial thickness of the extension part(Fig 5; 121b).
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Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify IKURA by modifying the shape of the busbar wherein an axial thickness of the body is the same as an axial thickness of the extension part taught by LEE in order to use less material and keep consistent manufacturing standards, thus reducing cost and improving ease of manufactory.
Additionally, it has been held that mere change of shape of a device involves only routine skill in the art. In re Dailey, 357 F.2d 669, 149 USPQ 47 (CCPA 1966).
Regarding claim 6, IKURA in view of LEE, teaches the motor of claim 1:
wherein the protrusion part(Fig 4; 32”W) is disposed to overlap a portion of the extension part (Fig 4; 32’W) in the axial direction(Shown in Fig 4).
Claim(s) 2-5 and 7-16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over IKURA (US 20130113313 A1) in view of LEE (US 20220069659 A1), in further view of UEDA (US 20080265701 A1).
In regards to claim 2, IKURA in view of LEE, teaches the motor of claim 1:
Combination IKURA/LEE does not teach:
wherein the bus bar includes a plurality of bus bar holes formed to pass therethrough in the axial direction, and
one area of a coil of the stator is disposed inside the bus bar hole.
UEDA teaches:
wherein the bus bar (Fig 3; 10) includes a plurality of bus bar holes(Fig 6; 22/23) formed to pass therethrough in the axial direction, and
one area of a coil (Fig 6; 20a) of the stator[0037] is disposed inside the bus bar hole(Fig 6; 22).
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Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify combination IKURA/LEE by adding the bus bar holes and boss parts onto the busbar taught by UEDA in order to connect the coils without using additional materials[0041UEDA].
In regards to claim 3, IKURA in view of LEE, in further view of UEDA, teaches the motor of claim 2:
Combination IKURA/LEE does not teach:
wherein each of the plurality of terminals includes the bus bar hole, and
the coil comes into contact with the terminal hole.
UEDA teaches:
wherein each of the plurality of terminals (Fig 3; 13U/V/W) includes the bus bar hole(Fig 3; 22/23), and
the coil (Fig 6; 20a)comes into contact with the terminal hole(Fig 6; 22/23).
In regards to claim 4, IKURA, in view of UEDA, teaches the motor of claim 3:
Combination IKURA/LEE does not teach:
wherein the terminal includes a boss part extending the terminal hole in the axial direction.
UEDA teaches:
wherein the terminal(Fig 6; 13U/V/W) includes a boss part (Fig 6; 21) extending the terminal hole (Fig 6; 22/23)in the axial direction.
In regards to claim 5, IKURA in view of LEE, in further view of UEDA, teaches the motor of claim 4:
Combination IKURA/LEE does not teach:
wherein the boss part is disposed to protrude from an upper surface of the bus bar holder.
UEDA teaches:
wherein the boss part(Fig 5; 21) is disposed to protrude from an upper surface of the bus bar holder(Fig 6; 15).
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In regards to claim 7, IKURA, in view of LEE, teaches the motor of claim 1:
wherein the plurality of terminals(Fig 10; 31U/V/W) include a first terminal(Fig 10; 31U), a second terminal(Fig 10; 31V), and a third terminal (Fig 10; 31W)disposed to be spaced apart from each other(Shown in Fig 10),
the first terminal (Fig 11b; 31U) includes an arc-shaped first body(Fig 11; 31b), a first extension part (Fig 11b; 32’U)extending inward from the end portion of the first body(Fig 11b; 31b), a first protrusion part (Fig 11b; 32”U)extending from an end portion of the first extension part (Fig 11b; 32’U)in the axial direction,
the second terminal (Fig 11c; 31V)includes an arc-shaped second body(Fig 11c; 31b), a second extension part (Fig 11c; 32’V)extending inward from the end portion of the second body(Fig 11c; 31b), a second protrusion part (Fig 11c; 32”V)extending from an end portion of the second extension part(Fig 11c; 32’V) in the axial direction,
the third terminal (Fig 11d; 31W)includes an arc-shaped third body(Fig 11d; 31b), a third extension part (Fig 11d; 32’W)extending inward from the end portion of the third body(Fig 11d; 31b), a third protrusion part (Fig 11d; 32”W)extending from an end portion of the third extension part (Fig 11d; 32’W) in the axial direction.
Combination IKURA/LEE does not teach:
a plurality of first terminal holes formed in the first body,
a plurality of second terminal holes formed in the second body, and
a plurality of third terminal holes formed in the third body.
UEDA teaches:
a plurality of first terminal holes (Fig 5; 22/23) formed in the first body(Fig 6; 13U),
a plurality of second terminal holes(Fig 5; 22/23) formed in the second body(Fig 5; 13V), and
a plurality of third terminal holes (Fig 5; 22/23)formed in the third body(Fig 5; 13W).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify UEDA by adding the bus bar holes and boss parts onto the busbar taught by IKURA in order to connect the coils without using additional materials[0041UEDA].
In regards to claim 8 IKURA in view of LEE, in further view of UEDA, teaches the motor of claim 7:
wherein the second extension part(Fig 10; 32’V) is disposed between the first extension part(Fig 10; 32’U) and the third extension part (Fig 10; 32’W)with respect to a circumferential direction.
In regards to claim 9, IKURA in view of LEE, in further view of UEDA, teaches the motor of claim 8:
wherein a radial length of the second extension part (Fig 10; 32’V)is smaller than a radial length of the first extension part(Fig 10; 32’U) and larger than a radial length of the third extension part(Fig 10; 32’W)(Fig 10 shows the general length of the second extension part to be between the first and third extension part).
In regards to claim 10, IKURA in view of LEE, in further view of UEDA, teaches the motor of claim 7:
wherein a center of the first protrusion part(Fig 10; 32”U), a center of the second protrusion part(Fig 10; 32”V), and a center of the third protrusion part (Fig 10; 32”W) are disposed on a virtual circle with a predetermined radius with respect to a center of the bus bar(Fig 10 shows the general geometric shape to generally fit this limitation limitation).
In regards to claim 11, IKURA in view of LEE, in further view of UEDA, teaches the motor of claim 9:
wherein an angle formed by a center (C1) of the first protrusion part (Fig 10; 32”U)and a center of the second protrusion part (Fig 10; 32”V)with respect to a center (C) of the bus bar is the same as an angle formed by the center of the second protrusion part (Fig 10; 32”V)and a center of the third protrusion part(Fig 10; 32”W) (Fig 10 shows the general geometric shape to generally fit this limitation limitation).
In regards to claim 12, IKURA in view of LEE, in further view of UEDA, teaches the motor of claim 7.
Combination IKURA/LEE does not teach:
wherein the bus bar includes a plurality of bus bar holes formed to pass therethrough in the axial direction,
the first terminal hole forms a portion of any one of the plurality of bus bar holes,
the second terminal hole forms a portion of another one of the plurality of bus bar holes, and
the third terminal hole forms a portion of the remaining one of the plurality of bus bar holes.
UEDA teaches:
wherein the bus bar (Fig 3; 10) includes a plurality of bus bar holes(Fig 3; 16) formed to pass therethrough in the axial direction,
the first terminal hole (Fig 6; 22/23) forms a portion of any one of the plurality of bus bar holes(Fig 3; 16),
the second terminal hole (Fig 6; 22/23)forms a portion of another one of the plurality of bus bar holes(Fig 3; 16), and
the third terminal hole (Fig 6; 22/23)forms a portion of the remaining one of the plurality of bus bar holes(Fig 3; 16).
In regards to claim 13 IKURA in view of LEE, in further view of UEDA, teaches the motor of claim 7.
Combination IKURA/LEE does not teach:
wherein one of the plurality of first terminal holes is disposed to overlap the second extension part of the second terminal in the radial direction.
UEDA teaches:
wherein one of the plurality of first terminal holes (Fig 6; 22/23) is disposed to overlap the second extension part(Fig 3; 11V) of the second terminal in the radial direction.
The Applicant should note that combination UEDA/IKURA discloses the claimed invention except for, “ a first terminal hole is disposed to overlap the second extension part in the radial direction.” It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to have a first terminal hole overlap the second extension part in the radial direction, since it has been held that rearranging parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art. In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70.
In regards to claim 14, IKURA in view of LEE, in further view of UEDA, teaches the motor of claim 13.
Combination IKURA/LEE does not teach:
wherein another one of the plurality of first terminal holes is disposed on the end portion of the first body in the circumferential direction.
UEDA teaches:
wherein another one of the plurality of first terminal holes (Fig 6; 22/23) is disposed on the end portion of the first body (Fig 3; 13U) in the circumferential direction( since the body is circular shaped the end portion can be defined at any point along the body).
In regards to claim 15, IKURA in view of LEE, in further view of UEDA, teaches the motor of claim 7.
Combination IKURA/LEE does not teach:
wherein the first terminal includes a first boss part extending the first terminal hole in the axial direction.
UEDA teaches:
wherein the first terminal (Fig 3; 11U/13U) includes a first boss part (Fig 6; 21) extending the first terminal hole (Fig 6; 22/23) in the axial direction.
In regards to claim 16, IKURA in view of LEE, in further view of UEDA, teaches the motor of claim 7.
Combination IKURA/LEE does not teach:
wherein the first terminal hole does not overlap the second terminal hole or the third terminal hole with respect to the radial direction.
UEDA teaches:
wherein the first terminal hole(Fig 3; 16) does not overlap the second terminal hole(Fig 3; 16) or the third terminal hole (Fig 3; 16)with respect to the radial direction(Fig 2 shows this limitation).
Claim(s) 2-5 and 7-16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over KIM (US 20180123414 A1) in view of LEE (US 20220069659 A1).
Regarding claim 17, KIM teaches:
A motor comprising:
a shaft(Fig 8; 30a);
a rotor (Fig 8; 300)coupled to the shaft(Fig 8; 30a)[0057];
a stator (Fig 8; 100)disposed to correspond to the rotor (Fig 8; 200)and including a stator core(Fig 1; 110), an insulator coupled to the stator core, and a coil (Fig 1; 120)disposed on the insulator[0057]; and
a terminal (Fig 2; 200)electrically connected to the coil(Fig 2; 120)[0042],
wherein the terminal (Fig 2; 200)includes a first body part(Fig 4; 210), and a second body part(Fig 7; 231) coupled to the first body part(Fig 4; 210),
wherein the second body part (Fig 7; 231)includes a first groove(Fig 7; 205),
wherein the first body part (Fig 7; 210) is coupled to any one of the first grooves(Fig 7; 205), and
wherein the first grooves(Fig 7; 205) have the same shape.
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KIM does not teach:
a first groove and a second groove spaced apart from the first groove,
wherein the plurality of grooves first groove and the second groove have the same shape.
LEE teaches:
a first groove (Fig 5; G1) and a second groove(Fig 5; G2) spaced apart from the first groove(Fig 5; G1),
wherein the plurality of grooves first groove (Fig 5; G1)and the second groove (Fig 5; G2)have the same shape.
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Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify KIM by modifying adding an additional same shaped groove as taught by LEE in order to allow addition places to connect terminals; giving the product customizable application.
Additionally, it has been held that mere duplication of the essential working parts of a device involves only routine skill in the art. St. Regis Paper Co. v. Bemis Co., 193 USPQ 8.
In regards to claim 18, KIM in view of LEE, teaches the motor of claim 17:
wherein the second body part (Fig 7; 231) includes a terminal body(Fig 7; 231), and terminal parts (Fig 2; 121/122)bent outward at both end portions of the terminal body and in contact with the coil(Fig 7; 120)[0040],
wherein the terminal body (Fig 7; 231)includes a pair of protrusions protruding from an upper surface of the terminal body, and
wherein each of the first groove (Fig 7; 205)is defined as a space between the pair of protrusions.
KIM does not teach:
The second groove
LEE teaches:
The second groove (Fig 5; G2)
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.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NICHOLAS L SETZER whose telephone number is (571)272-3021. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm EST.
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, Oluseye Iwarere can be reached at (571) 270-5112. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/N.L.S./Examiner, Art Unit 2834
/OLUSEYE IWARERE/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2834
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