Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement filed December 5, 2024 fails to comply with 37 CFR 1.98(a)(3)(i) because it does not include a concise explanation of the relevance, as it is presently understood by the individual designated in 37 CFR 1.56(c) most knowledgeable about the content of the information, of each reference listed that is not in the English language. Applicant is advised that the date of any re-submission of any item of information contained in this information disclosure statement or the submission of any missing element(s) will be the date of submission for purposes of determining compliance with the requirements based on the time of filing the statement, including all certification requirements for statements under 37 CFR 1.97(e). See MPEP § 609.05(a).
Drawings
Figures 1-5 should be designated by a legend such as --Prior Art-- because only that which is old is illustrated. See MPEP § 608.02(g).
The drawings are objected to because they fail to show a tripod joints comprising all the limitations of claims 6-8.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Objections
Claim 1 is objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.75(i) because elements of the claim are not separated by line indentation.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
Claim 5 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. Claim 5 recites the limitation, “wherein in the cross-section a contour of an inner circumferential surface of the inner ring is formed at least between the contact points in . . . at least straight-line shape.”
Claims 6-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the enablement requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to enable one skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and/or use the invention. Most of the limitations and none of the enabling structural features of claims 6-8 are described in the specification. As such, it would not be possible for one of ordinary skill in the art to make or use the claimed invention without undue experimentation. In making this determination the examiner affirms that he has considered the breadth of the claims;
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the nature of the invention;
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the state of the prior art;
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the level of one of ordinary skill;
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the level of predictability in the art;
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the amount of direction provided by the inventor; any
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existence of working examples; and the quantity of experimentation needed to make or use the invention based on the content of the disclosure.
Claim 10 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph, as being of improper dependent form for failing to further limit the subject matter of the claim upon which it depends.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
Claims 1-5, 7 & 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Henkel, US 6,918,836. Henkel discloses a tripod joint (10) for a motor vehicle (col. 1, line 22), the joint comprising an outer joint part (12) having a first longitudinal axis (14) and a cavity (25) extending parallel to the first longitudinal axis and having an open end, three recesses (27) extending parallel to the first longitudinal axis being formed in the outer joint part, and an inner joint part (11) having a second longitudinal axis (13), comprising at least one central body (see Fig. 2) on which three spherical journals (17, col. 4, line 23) are formed, having journal axes extending outwards from the second longitudinal axis along a radial direction, wherein on the journals is arranged in each case a roller body which has at least an outer ring (24) and an inner ring (19) rotatable relative to the latter about a common axis of rotation, and bearing bodies (23) arranged between the outer ring and the inner ring; wherein in the recesses the roller bodies are movably arranged along the first longitudinal axis in each case (col. 4, lines 8-11); wherein Fig. 7 shows, at least when the longitudinal axes are coaxial and when a torque acting in a circumferential direction is transmitted during intended operation of the tripod joint, a force between the journal and the inner ring can be transmitted continuously via two contact points (51), the contact points, in a cross- section of the tripod joint running transversely to the longitudinal axes, being arranged at a distance from one another along the radial direction,
wherein Fig. 7 shows the contour of the inner circumferential surface (50) of the inner ring is formed in a straight-line shape.
Claims 1-5, 7 & 9-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Mondragon-Parra, US 8,353,777. Mondragon-Paral discloses a tripod joint (20) for a motor vehicle (col. 3, lines 55-57), the joint comprising an outer joint part (28) having a first longitudinal axis (26) and a cavity (see Figs. 1-2) extending parallel to the first longitudinal axis and having an open end, three recesses (30) extending parallel to the first longitudinal axis being formed in the outer joint part, and an inner joint part (40) having a second longitudinal axis (38), comprising at least one central body (see Fig. 3) on which three spherical journals (42, col. 4, lines 53-57) are formed, having journal axes (46) extending outwards from the second longitudinal axis along a radial direction, wherein on the journals is arranged in each case a roller body (52) which has at least an outer ring (56) and an inner ring (54) rotatable relative to the latter about a common axis of rotation, and bearing bodies (58) arranged between the outer ring and the inner ring; wherein in the recesses the roller bodies are movably arranged along the first longitudinal axis in each case (col. 5, lines 13-17); wherein, at least when the longitudinal axes are coaxial and when a torque acting in a circumferential direction is transmitted during intended operation of the tripod joint, a force between the journal and the inner ring can be transmitted continuously via two contact points, the contact points, in a cross- section of the tripod joint running transversely to the longitudinal axes, being arranged at a distance from one another along the radial direction col. 5, lines 46-51,
wherein the contour of the inner circumferential surface (62) of the inner ring is formed in an elliptical shape (col. 5, lines 27-31),
wherein a mounting space for the bearing bodies is limited by a retaining ring (61) arranged on the outer ring.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Kudo and Cummins disclose tripod joints.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Greg Binda whose telephone number is (571)272-7077. The examiner can normally be reached 9:30-5:30 et.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Matthew Troutman can be reached at 571-270-3654. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Greg Binda/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3679
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