DETAILED ACTION
This is on the merits of Application No. 18/872188, filed on 12/05/2024. Claims 1-7 are pending. 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 12/05/2024, 10/22/2025, 12/30/2025, and 02/19/2026 are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statements have been considered by the examiner.
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.
Claims 6-7 and 11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by CN 101532430 to Zhang (cited in applicant’s IDS).
Zhang discloses:
(Claim 6) A mounting bracket (2) fixed to an end surface, located at one end side in a cylinder line direction, of an internal combustion engine (see Fig. 1), the mounting bracket comprising: a plurality of mounting portions (3) for securing the internal combustion engine to a vehicle body, wherein the plurality of mounting portions are formed by respective mutually independent bulging portions protruding forward with respect to the end surface, located at the one end side, of the internal combustion engine (see Fig. 6, two independent bulges).
(Claim 7) wherein the plurality of mounting portions are formed so as to extend in an up-down direction along a cylinder axis of the internal combustion engine (see Figs. 1, 4, and 6, element 3 extends in an up-down direction).
(Claim 11) wherein the bulging portions have a semi-cylindrical cross section formed by hollowing out a rear side portion of the bulging portion (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 element 12, bulging portions are semi-cylindrical and are hollowed out with reducing pit/hole 12).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
Claims 8-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhang in view of JP 07259578 to Tashiro et al (cited in applicant’s IDS).
Zhang discloses:
The limitations of claim 7.
(Claim 9) wherein the mounting portions have ribs (Fig. 4 element 13).
(Claim 10) further comprising: a plurality of ribs (Fig. 4 element 13) connected to the plurality of mounting portions.
Zhang does not disclose:
(Claim 8) wherein at least one of the plurality of mounting portions is formed so that its center line in the up-down direction is inclined with respect to the cylinder axis when viewed from an axial direction of a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine.
(Claim 9) wherein the adjacent mounting portions are connected to each other by ribs.
(Claim 10) wherein the mounting bracket is formed so that a contour line formed by connecting the plurality of mounting portions and the plurality of ribs continues annularly when viewed from an axial direction of a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine.
Tashiro teaches:
(Claim 8) wherein at least one of the plurality of mounting portions (Figs. 2-5, element 17b) is formed so that its center line in the up-down direction is inclined with respect to the cylinder axis when viewed from an axial direction of a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine (see Fig. 2 and 4, inclined relative to the cylinder axis, as the cylinder axis is from a V-shaped engine).
(Claim 9) wherein the adjacent mounting portions are connected to each other by ribs (see Fig. 5 element 17d, ribs connect adjacent mounting portions).
(Claim 10) further comprising: a plurality of ribs (17d) connected to the plurality of mounting portions, wherein the mounting bracket is formed so that a contour line formed by connecting the plurality of mounting portions and the plurality of ribs continues annularly when viewed from an axial direction of a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine (see Fig. 5).
Regarding claim 8, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified, with a reasonable expectation of success, the structure of Zhang to have the mounting portion inclined with respect to the cylinder axis, as taught by Tashiro, as an obvious design choice to the type of engine wanted. Zhang does not explicitly state the type of engine being mounted. Tashiro teaches a V-shaped engine being mounted. One of ordinary skill would be able to apply teachings of Tashiro to Zhang and produce predictable results. The resulting structure would have the cylinder axis be inclined relative to the mounting portion.
Regarding claims 9 and 10, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified, with a reasonable expectation of success, the structure of Zhang to have the ribs connect the adjacent mounting portions as well as the mounting bracket formed so that a contour line formed by connecting the plurality of mounting portions and the plurality of ribs continues annularly when viewed from an axial direction of a crankshaft, as taught by Tahsiro, in order to have the structure more secure and rigid. One of ordinary skill could easily apply the rib structure of Tashiro to Zhang and produce predictable results.
Claim 12 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhang in view of U.S. Patent No. 5743229 to Hosoya (cited in applicant’s IDS).
Zhang discloses:
The limitations of claim 6.
Zhang does not disclose:
(Claim 12) wherein the bulging portions are formed so as to extend in an up-down direction along a cylinder axis of the internal combustion engine, and lower ends of the bulging portions are directed toward respective securing points of the mounting bracket to the internal combustion engine.
Hosoya teaches:
(Claim 12) wherein a bulging portion is formed so as to extend in an up-down direction along a cylinder axis of the internal combustion engine (10), and lower ends of the bulging portions are directed toward respective securing points (Fig. 5 element 68) of the mounting bracket (66) to the internal combustion engine (See Figs. 5-6).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified, with a reasonable expectation of success, the structure of Zhang to have the lower ends directed towards respective securing points, as taught by Hosoya, as an obvious design choice to the bulging portion. Zhang discloses two open ended bulges that do not have a lower ends directed toward a securing point. Hosoya teaches a bulge that does. One of ordinary skill in the art would be able to apply the teachings of Hosoya and have the lower ends of the bulges in Zhang be directed toward a securing point and produce predictable results. The added structure would allow for a more rigid and strong connection for the mounting of the engine with less weak points to fail.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Steiner et al (US 6148786) discloses a mounting device for an engine bearing of an internal combustion engine.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TIMOTHY HANNON whose telephone number is (571)270-1943. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 10-6.
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, Ernesto Suarez can be reached at (571) 270-5565. 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.
/TIMOTHY HANNON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3655
Prosecution Insights