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 § 102
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an
application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed
before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 17-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Zhou (CN 216546553).
In re claim 17, Zhou discloses a vehicle drive system (as shown in Figure 4) comprising a motor drive system (100) configured to output a first drive torque (motor torque), the motor drive system comprising: a drive motor (102) configured to output a motor torque (via power output 118); and a drive gear system (as shown in Figures 2 and 3) configured to receive the motor torque and output the first drive torque; and a pedal drive system (403, 404; as shown in Figure 4) comprising a spindle system comprising a spindle body (113), the drive gear system comprising a gear reduction stage (103-105) comprising: concentric gears comprising: a first concentric gear (103) disposed concentric to the spindle body of the pedal drive system; and a second concentric gear (104) disposed concentric to the spindle body of the pedal drive system (as shown in Figure 1).
In re claim 18, Zhou further discloses wherein the spindle system configured to receive a pedal input torque (from pedals) and output a second drive torque (pedal + motor torques).
In re claim 19, Zhou further discloses comprising a third concentric gear (108) disposed concentric to the spindle body of the pedal drive system.
In re claim 20, Zhou further discloses wherein the first drive torque is configured to generate a torque that is delivered to a chainring (119) of a chain drive system of a bicycle, and wherein a torque that is delivered to a chainring is configured to drive the chain drive system to drive rotation of a wheel of the bicycle (as shown in Figure 4).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-16 are allowed.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The specific limitations of “the mid-drive gear box system comprising a gear reduction stage comprising: two or more concentric gears, each concentric gear of the two or more concentric gears is disposed concentric to a spindle body of the spindle system of the pedal drive system; and a parallel axis idler gearset comprising: a first idler gear configured to engage a first gear of the gear reduction stage and a second gear of the gear reduction stage and to transmit torque from the first gear to the second gear; and a second idler gear configured to engage the first gear of the gear reduction stage and the second gear of the gear reduction stage and to transmit torque from the first gear to the second gear” is not anticipated or made obvious by the prior art of record in the examiner’s opinion. The Examiner notes that the prior art does not teach a motorized bicycle having a gear reduction stage comprising two concentric gears with a parallel axis idler gearset comprising two idler gears as claimed to transmit torque.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure. The references cited on the attached PTO-892 teach motorized bicycles of interest.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Michael R Stabley whose telephone number is (571)270-3249. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F 9-5:30.
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, Valentin Neacsu can be reached on (571) 272-6265. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see https://ppair-my.uspto.gov/pair/PrivatePair. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/MICHAEL R STABLEY/Examiner, Art Unit 3611
/KEVIN HURLEY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3611
Prosecution Insights