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 .
DETAILED ACTION
Claims 1-7 are currently pending in this application.
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.
Claim(s) 1-4 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by JANSEN (2008/0108442).
Regarding Claim 1, JANSEN teaches A decoupler (20) for mounting to a shaft and engaging an endless drive member (14) in an endless drive arrangement for transmitting power between an engine and an accessory in a vehicle, the decoupler comprising: a decoupler input member (50) and a decoupler output member (22) that is rotatable relative to the decoupler input member (50), wherein the decoupler input member (50) or the decoupler output member (22) is shaped to engage with the endless drive member (14); a wrap spring clutch (71) and an isolation spring (90) that are positioned to transfer torque in series between the decoupler input member (50) and the decoupler output member (22); and a carrier (75) that is positioned to hold an end of the wrap spring clutch (71) and an end of the isolation spring (90) so as to permit torque transfer between the end of the wrap spring clutch (71) and the end of the isolation spring (90), wherein the wrap spring clutch (71) is positioned to transfer torque between the isolation spring (90) and one of the decoupler input member (50) and the decoupler output member (22) and the carrier (75) is supported on a support surface that is fixed to said decoupler output member (22).
Regarding Claim 2, JANSEN teaches wherein said one of the decoupler input member (50) and the decoupler output member (22) is the decoupler input member (50).
Regarding Claim 3, JANSEN teaches further comprising an anti-ramp drive feature (39)(75) that is fixed to the other of the decoupler input member (50) and the decoupler output member (22), and that is positioned to drive the carrier (75) to rotate with the decoupler output member (22) when the decoupler output member overruns the decoupler input member (50).
Regarding Claim 4, JANSEN teaches wherein the decoupler input member (50) is a pulley and the decoupler output member (22) is a hub that is mountable to a shaft of the accessory [0007][0027].
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 6, 7 are allowed.
The prior art does not teach or suggest a decoupler for mounting to a shaft and engaging an endless drive member in an endless drive arrangement for transmitting power between an engine and at least one accessory in a vehicle, the decoupler comprising:a decoupler input member and a decoupler output member that is rotatable relative to the decoupler input member, wherein either the decoupler input member or the decoupler output member is shaped to engage with the endless drive member; a wrap spring clutch and an isolation spring that are positioned to transfer torque in series between the decoupler input member and the decoupler output member; and a carrier that is positioned to hold an end of the wrap spring clutch and an end of the isolation spring so as to permit torque transfer between the end of the wrap spring clutch and the end of the isolation spring, wherein the wrap spring clutch is positioned to transfer torque between the isolation spring and one of the decoupler input member and the decoupler output member and the isolation spring is positioned to transfer torque between the wrap spring clutch and the other of the decoupler input member and the decoupler output member, wherein the other of the decoupler input member and the decoupler output member has a carrier retainer slot that extends circumferentially thereon, an entrance slot that extends at least partially axially at a first end of the carrier retainer slot, and an anti-ramp drive feature at a second end of the carrier retainer slot,wherein the carrier includes a radially inward projection with an anti-ramp drive receiving surface thereon, wherein the carrier is mountable to the other of the decoupler input member and the decoupler output member such that the radially inward projection is insertable along the entrance slot to reach the carrier retainer slot, and is movable along the carrier retainer slot, such that, when the decoupler output member overruns the decoupler input member, the anti-ramp drive feature engages the anti-ramp drive receiving surface to drive the carrier to rotate with the other of the decoupler input member and the decoupler output member in Claim 6.
Claims 5 is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The prior art does not teach or suggest wherein the isolation spring is positioned to transfer torque between the wrap spring clutch and the other of the decoupler input member and the decoupler output member, wherein the other of the decoupler input member and the decoupler output member has a carrier retainer slot that extends circumferentially thereon, an entrance slot that extends at least partially axially at a first end of the carrier retainer slot, and an anti-ramp drive feature at a second end of the carrier retainer slot, wherein the carrier includes a radially inward projection with an anti-ramp drive receiving surface thereon, wherein the carrier is mountable to the other of the decoupler input member and the decoupler output member such that the radially inward projection is insertable along the entrance slot to reach the carrier retainer slot, and is movable along the carrier retainer slot, such that, when the decoupler output member overruns the decoupler input member, the anti-ramp drive feature engages the anti-ramp drive receiving surface to drive the carrier to rotate with the other of the decoupler input member and the decoupler output member with the other elements in Claim 5.
The prior art does not teach or suggest wherein said one of the decoupler input member and the decoupler output member is the decoupler input member in Claim 7.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 8/21/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argues that JANSEN does not teach the wrap spring clutch transfers torque between the isolation spring and either the input member or the output member, and the support surface for the carrier is fixed to that same one of either the input member or the output member (Remarks pg. 7 para. 1).
In response to applicant's argument that the references fail to show certain features of the invention, it is noted that the features upon which applicant relies (i.e., and the support surface for the carrier is fixed to that same one of either the input member or the output member) are not recited in the rejected claim(s). Although the claims are interpreted in light of the specification, limitations from the specification are not read into the claims. See In re Van Geuns, 988 F.2d 1181, 26 USPQ2d 1057 (Fed. Cir. 1993). Also, the language of claim 1 is broad enough to be reasonably interpreted to allow for the torque to be transferred between isolation spring and either the input member or the output member and the support surface to be fixed to either the input member or the output member.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 HENRY Y LIU whose telephone number is (571)270-7018. The examiner can normally be reached 9-5:30 ET.
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HENRY Y. LIU
Examiner
Art Unit 3654
/HENRY Y LIU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3654
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