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 Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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.
Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Oka (JP 3995182 B2) in view of Seiji (KR 20040099522 A).
Regarding claim 1, Oka teaches a method for manufacturing a rack bar,
PNG
media_image1.png
102
872
media_image1.png
Greyscale
the method comprising: forming a flattened portion (A) extending in an axial direction of a hollow shaft member on an outer peripheral surface of the hollow shaft member (see entire par. 9);
PNG
media_image2.png
170
904
media_image2.png
Greyscale
forming rack teeth on a flat outer surface of the flattened portion (see entire par. 10);
PNG
media_image3.png
152
896
media_image3.png
Greyscale
(holding radially inner side of the hollow shaft member by core bar 10 described in par. 0009 and mandrel 12 described in par. 0010).However Oka is silent regarding quenching process of the rack teeth with mandrel inside.
PNG
media_image4.png
686
779
media_image4.png
Greyscale
Seiji (KR 20040099522 A) teaches a method and device for forging a rack bar from a steel tube with core inserted into steel tube “when quenching in post-processing” to minimize hardening distortions. Seiji teaches quenching extends service life of the teeth.
PNG
media_image5.png
127
906
media_image5.png
Greyscale
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate teachings of Seiji in hollow rack production of Oka and add post teeth forming process of quenching the teeth while a core is inserted into the hollow shaft member/hollow rack bar. Doing so would extend life of the teeth while minimizing hardening distortion.
Claim 2 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Oka in view of Seiji as applied in rejection of claim 1 above, and further in view of Takashi (WO 2016152146 A1).
Regarding claim 2, combination of Oka and Seiji does not teach the claimed adding another hollow shaft member to the first hollow shaft member.
Fig. 6 of Takashi shows joining a solid extension shaft member (rod-shaped extension shaft member S2) to one end of the rack bar (hollow rack bar 1); and forming a linear motion structure (rack bar 21) on the extension shaft member in an axial direction of the extension shaft member. Takashi teaches “rack bar 21 is configured to be used in a dual pinion electric power steering device”.
PNG
media_image6.png
84
892
media_image6.png
Greyscale
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate teachings of Takashi to combined rack bar of Oka and Seiji and add a second rack to the first rack. Doing so would make a dual rack steering apparatus for a dual pinion electric power steering device.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Chiaki (JP 2003311366 A) teaches a cored bar inserted into hollow rack bar for external toothing. Chiaki further teaches core inserted inside toothed rack to minimize quenching distortion.
PNG
media_image7.png
122
896
media_image7.png
Greyscale
Fig. 10 of Kenichi (WO 2020158616 A1) shows joining a solid extension shaft member (solid second shaft member 114) to one end of the rack bar (hollow first shaft member 113); and forming a linear motion structure (rack bar 110) on the extension shaft member in an axial direction of the extension shaft member; andFig. 11 of Kenichi shows joining a hollow extension shaft member (hollow second shaft member 214) to one end of the rack bar (hollow first shaft member 213); and forming a linear motion structure (rack bar 210) on the extension shaft member in an axial direction of the extension shaft member.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MAHDI H NEJAD whose telephone number is (571)270-0464. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7:30am-4pm 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, David Posigian can be reached at (313) 446-6546. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
MAHDI H. NEJAD
Examiner
Art Unit 3723
/MAHDI H NEJAD/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3723
Prosecution Insights