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 .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 8/14/2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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) 1-6 and 9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Yutani et al. (JP 2011223759; IDS).
In claim 1, Yutani discloses (Fig. 1-7) a strip stator core, comprising: a plurality of interconnected stator core units (11, 13), each of the plurality of stator core units comprising a yoke (13) and a tooth part (11) protruding from an inner side of the yoke (13); wherein: the tooth part (11) comprises an outer surface partially or completely covered with an electrophoretic protective film ([0006]); and yokes (13) of the plurality of interconnected stator core units (11, 13) are coiled to form a ring (Fig. 7).
In claim 2, Yutani discloses wherein the tooth part (11) comprises a crown (Comp_C) and a root (Comp_R; annotated below) and the crown (Comp_C; annotated below) and a part of the root (Comp_R) connected to the crown are coated with the electrophoretic protective film ([0006]).
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In claim 3, Yutani discloses wherein a boundary line L between the electrophoretic protective film ([0006]) and the root (Comp_R) is a middle line of the root (Comp_R).
In claim 4, Yutani discloses wherein each of the plurality of stator core units comprises a plurality of silicon steel laminates ([0003]).
In claim 5, Yutani discloses wherein two yokes (13) of every two adjacent stator core units (11, 13) are connected through a connecting bar (Comp_BC; annotated above); and the connecting bar (Comp_BC) is located on one end of the yoke (13) away from the tooth part (11).
In claim 6, Yutani discloses wherein a first groove (outer radial portion of Comp_BC) is disposed on a first side of the connecting bar (Comp_BC) and between two yokes (13) of two adjacent stator core units (11, 13); a second groove (inner radial portion of Comp_BC) is disposed on a second side of the connecting bar (Comp_BC) and between the two yokes (13) of the two adjacent stator core units (11, 13); and the first groove and the second groove are both arc-shaped (Fig. 2).
In claim 9, Yutani discloses stator assembly, comprising an end insulation ([0006]), a coil winding (6), and the strip stator core of claim 1.
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
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) 7-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yutani et al. (JP 2011223759; IDS) in view of Chen et al. (CN 204304635; IDS).
In claim 7, Yutani teaches the stator core of claim 6, with the exception of wherein the yoke of a head of the plurality of stator core units comprises a male buckle, the yoke of a tail of the plurality of stator core units comprises a female buckle matched with the male buckle.
However, Chen teaches (Fig. 1-12) a strip stator core, wherein the yoke (11) of a head of the plurality of stator core units (1) comprises a male buckle (641), the yoke (11) of a tail of the plurality of stator core units (1) comprises a female buckle (631) matched with the male buckle (641).
Therefore in view of Chen, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to have arrived at the claimed invention, in order to provide a structure which effectively utilizes the utilization of the steel silicon sheets without material waste (Chen; [0007]).
In claim 8, Yutani as modified teaches the stator core of claim 7, with the exception of wherein the yoke of a part of the plurality of stator core units comprises a screw hole.
However, Chen further teaches wherein the yoke (11) of a part of the plurality of stator core units (1) comprises a screw hole (113).
Therefore further in view of Chen, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to have arrived at the claimed invention, in order to help provide a structure which effectively utilizes the utilization of the steel silicon sheets without material waste (Chen; [0007]).
Claim(s) 10 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yutani et al. (JP 2011223759; IDS) in view of Nagata et al. (US 2007/0024149).
In claim 10, Yutani teaches a motor having the stator core of claim 9, with the exception of a rotor assembly, and a housing.
However, Nagata teaches (Fig. 1-17) a motor (11) having a stator assembly (15), a rotor assembly (16) and a housing (14).
Therefore in view of Nagata, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to have arrived at the claimed invention, in order to provide an established magnetic circuit for the motor to function (Nagata; [0008-0009]).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Nishimura et al. (US 2010/0141059) teaches a capacitor motor formed of a stator including a stator iron core and windings.
Tatebe et al. (US 2020/0099277) teaches a method for producing a stacked core including a stack of foil-shaped magnetic members for fixation to a case with a fastening bolt includes preparing magnetic members each having formed therein a positioning opening.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RASHAD H JOHNSON whose telephone number is (571)272-1231. The examiner can normally be reached 9:30am-5pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Christopher Koehler can be reached at 571-272-3560. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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RASHAD H. JOHNSON
Examiner
Art Unit 2834
/RASHAD H JOHNSON/Examiner, Art Unit 2834