DETAILED ACTION
Claim Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities:
In claim 1 (line 3) “the thickness” should recite –a thickness--.
In claim 1 (line 5) “the first member side” should recite –a first member side--.
In claim 1 (line 6) “the second member side” should recite –a second member side--.
For the purpose of examining the application, it is assumed that appropriate correction has been made.
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 1-3 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hunt (EP 0 317 564) in view of Tanimichi (“Research on helical surface structure realized by additive manufacturing”. Master’s Thesis of 2008.).
As to claim 1, Hunt discloses a connector connecting a first member and a second member, comprising:
at least one spiral part 14a in a shape where a thickness is added to a spiral surface formed by a spiral trajectory in which a line, connecting a first point located adjacent a center axis passing through a first position on the first member side and a second position on the second member side and a second point located at a position away from the center axis, rotates around the center axis with the first point as a center while the first point moves in a direction along the center axis,
wherein the connector is integrally molded as a whole (Figure 2; C8 L12-18; C8 L56-C9 L8).
Hunt discloses a connector wherein the first point of the spiral surface is located offset from the center axis; instead of on the center axis.
Tanimichi teaches a spiral part in a shape where a thickness is added to a spiral surface formed by a spiral trajectory in which a line, connecting a first point located on a center axis passing through a first position on a first side and a second position on a second side and a second point located at a position away from the center axis, rotates around the center axis with the first point as a center while the first point moves in a direction along the center axis, wherein the connector is integrally molded as a whole; the central shaft portion defined by the spiral part extending from the center axis providing for greater bending and compressive rigidity of the spiral part (Figure 2-4; Chapters 2,4,5). Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the connector disclosed by Hunt wherein the spiral parts extend from the center axis to define a central shaft portion, as taught by Tanimichi, in order to provide for greater bending and compressive rigidity of the connector.
As to claim 2, Hunt discloses a connector wherein the connector includes a plurality of spiral parts 14a (Figure 2).
As to claim 3, Hunt discloses a connector wherein the spiral part 14a is formed so that a pitch in a direction along the center axis is constant (Figure 2).
Conclusion
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01/21/26 /MICHAEL P FERGUSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3619