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 pr----ovisions of the AIA .
Information Disclosure Statement
As discussed with Applicant’s representative on August 20, 2026, the reference cited by the Japanese Patent Office in the April 7, 2026 Office Action listed by Applicant, is not the reference cited by Applicant in the June 12, 2026 IDS. While the reference cited by Applicant has been considered, it is not relevant to the present prosecution.
Response to Amendment
Claims 1-2 and 4-17 are pending. Claims 4-17 have been withdrawn. Claim 1 has been amended with a new limitation and incorporating the subject matter of cancelled claim 3. The argument is not persuasive, and the rejection is maintain, with some additions due to the additionally recited subject matter.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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.
Claim(s) 1-2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Nobuyuki (JP S45-6785).
Regarding claim 1, Nobuyuki discloses a link mechanism (link device 3) constituting a link device used in a stretching machine configured to stretch a film, the link mechanism (link device 3) comprising: a pair of rail holders (link shafts 23, 23’, roller 34, thrust bearing 35, Fig. 5); a base member (outer link plate 22, Figs. 3-5) bridging the pair of rail holders (Figs. 3-5); a link plate (inner link plates 25, 26, Figs. 3-4) having one end rotatably coupled to one of the pair of rail holders and the other end rotatably coupled to another link mechanism (Figs. 3-4); and a clip (grippers 2, 2’) provided at one end of the base member and configured to grip the film (p. 1, Fig. 5), wherein each of the rail holders includes: a guide roller having openings on both end sides in an axial direction and moving while rotating (roller 34, Figs. 3-5); a first hollow shaft having openings on both end sides in a direction along the axial direction (link shafts, 23, 23’, ,Figs. 3, 5) one side being fixed to the rail holder and the other side being inserted into the guide roller (Fig. 5); a bearing interposed between the guide roller and the first shaft and configured to rotatably support the guide roller (thrust bearing 35, Fig. 5); and a second shaft having a shaft portion inserted into the first shaft and a support portion supporting the bearing (thrust bearing 35, Fig. 5), the support portion being formed on the shaft portion (portion of thrust bearing 35 extending into link shaft 23’ is the shaft portion, support portion extends away from link shaft 23’, Fig. 5) wherein an upper portion of the shaft portion of the second shaft protrudes from an upper portion of the first shaft and is fixed to the first shaft by a retaining member (support shaft of thrust bearing 35 protrudes from and is fixed to link shaft 23’, Fig. 5).
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Annotated Fig. 5
Regarding claim 2, Nobuyuki discloses wherein the bearing includes an inner ring (A, Annotated Fig. 5), an outer ring (B, Annotated Fig. 5), and a rolling element disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring (C, Annotated Fig. 5), and wherein the support portion of the second shaft supports the inner ring (D, Annotated Fig. 5).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed June 16, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant argues that Nobuyuki does not teach wherein an upper portion of the shaft portion of the second shaft protrudes from an upper portion of the first shaft and is fixed to the first shaft by a retaining member because thrust bearing 35 and link shaft 23’ are separate components. This argument is not persuasive because the second shaft, as recited, is applied to the portion of thrust bearing 35 that extends into link shaft 23’. Link shaft 23’ maps to the first shaft. Applicant’s remaining arguments are based on this alleged deficiency and are similarly unpersuasive.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 J CHIDIAC whose telephone number is (571)272-6131. The examiner can normally be reached 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Sam Xiao Zhao can be reached at 571-270-5343. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/NICHOLAS J CHIDIAC/ Examiner, Art Unit 1744
/EMMANUEL S LUK/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1744
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