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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 08/23/2026. The submission 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.
Claims 1-4 and 7-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Schwartz et al. (US 2019/0234474 A1).
Regarding claim 1, Schwartz et al. discloses an electromechanical drum brake (fig. 1) for a motor vehicle, comprising:
a drum (18), in which brake shoes (46, 48) are arranged; and
an adjusting device (32, 60), which is arranged between the brake shoes (24, 26) and driven by a drive unit (16 in fig. 2) and via which the brake shoes can be spread for braking;
wherein an end of each of the brake shoes that faces the adjusting device (32, 60) is supported on a support arrangement (24, 26, 44) cooperating with the adjusting device, movably in relation to the support arrangement, wherein a spreading force of the adjusting device is transferable to the brake shoes via the support arrangement.
Re-claim 2, Schwartz et al. discloses a support bearing (22), on which the brake shoes are movably supported, is arranged at an end (50) of the brake shoes that is opposite to the adjusting device (32, 60).
Re-claim 3, Schwartz et al. discloses the support arrangement (22) includes semi-annular expansion clips (note the members 24 and 26 are supported on anchor pin(s) 22 and thereby pivotally coupled to spider 20 at one end, wherein the web 44 may have one end 50 that defines a semicircular recess 52 configured to receive a corresponding anchor pin 22in [[0018]).
Re-claim 4, Schwartz et al. discloses a support bearing (22), on which the expansion clips are rotatably supported, is arranged at an end of the brake shoes that is opposite to the adjusting device (note are supported on anchor pin(s) 22 and thereby pivotally coupled to spider 20 at one end, wherein the web 44 may have one end 50 that defines a semicircular recess 52 configured to receive a corresponding anchor pin 22in [[0018]).
Re-claim 7, Schwartz et al. discloses the adjusting device including a cam (60), and wherein, at an expansion clip end facing the cam, the expansion clips respectively include a roller carrier (34, 36), on which a roller is arranged, which is in contact with the cam (note the roller members that contact the cam 60).
Re-claim 8, Schwartz et al. discloses the adjusting device is an S-shaped cam (60).
Re-claim 9, Schwartz et al. discloses an adjustment path of the cam is configured in such a way that the adjustment path includes wear of the brake shoes (note the slack adjuster translates linear motion of a pushrod extending from the brake actuator into rotational movement of the camshaft to control the position of the camshaft and cam and to adjust the position to account for brake lining wear in [0002]).
Re-claim 10, Schwartz et al. discloses the drive unit (16 in fig. 2) includes a transmission unit, which is configured without locking (note anti-locking in [0037]).
Claims 1-6 and 8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Urban et al. (US 4,476,968).
Regarding claim 1, Urban et al. discloses an electromechanical drum brake (fig. 1) for a motor vehicle, comprising:
a drum (12), in which brake shoes (22, 24) are arranged; and
an adjusting device (32), which is arranged between the brake shoes and driven by a drive unit (air motor 41) and via which the brake shoes can be spread for braking;
wherein an end of each of the brake shoes that faces the adjusting device (32) is supported on a support arrangement (26) cooperating with the adjusting device, movably in relation to the support arrangement, wherein a spreading force of the adjusting device is transferable to the brake shoes via the support arrangement.
Re-claim 2, Urban et al. discloses a support bearing (18), on which the brake shoes are movably supported, is arranged at an end of the brake shoes that is opposite to the adjusting device (32).
Re-claim 3, Urban et al. discloses the support arrangement (26) includes semi-annular expansion clips (52 in fig. 2).
Re-claim 4, Urban et al. discloses a support bearing (18), on which the expansion clips (52) are rotatably supported, is arranged at an end of the brake shoes that is opposite to the adjusting device (32).
Re-claim 5, Urban et al. discloses at least one holding element (132), which cooperates with a corresponding expansion clip and via which the brake shoes can be held in a normal direction of the drum, is attached to the brake shoes.
Re-claim 6, Urban et al. discloses the holding element is a retaining clip (132).
Re-claim 8, Urban et al. discloses the adjusting device is an S-shaped cam (32).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MAHBUBUR RASHID whose telephone number is (571)272-7218. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 9am to 10pm EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, ROBERT SICONOLFI can be reached at 5712727124. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MAHBUBUR RASHID/Examiner, Art Unit 3616
/Robert A. Siconolfi/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3616
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