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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 12-22 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 12 recites “a maximum of one friction clutch of engaged friction clutches of the plurality of friction clutches is engaged using the system pressure.” It is unclear how direct of usage is required to be interpreted as a clutch being engaged using system pressure. Wouldn’t every clutch in a system be engage by somehow using system pressure prior to that pressure reaching the valve directly engaging the clutch?
Claim 16 recites “wherein the hydraulic assembly (16) carries out a rapid filling in order to engage the one friction clutch (K1, K2, K3, K4).” It is unclear how rapid a fill must be to be interpreted as rapid. There is no comparison to the normal filling speed in the claim.
Claim 18 recites “by one or both of a power take-off (20) of an internal combustion engine (14) or an electric motor.” This should recite “by one or both of a power take-off (20) of an internal combustion engine (14) and an electric motor.”
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 12-22 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The Examiner is required to interpret the using of the system pressure in a way that is as broad as reasonably possible. As such, any use of the system pressure which is the unaltered pressure from the pump that causes the engagement of one of the relevant clutches is considered to be using the system pressure.
The prior art does not disclose one gear that requires at least three engaged clutches and another gear that requires at least two engaged clutches, with at least one clutch being different, for each of the at least two different gear steps, a maximum of one friction clutch of engaged friction clutches of the plurality of friction clutches is engaged using the system pressure and the remaining clutches being closed loop. The prior art somehow uses the system pressure for all of the clutches.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. DE 102009025214A1 discloses closed loop valves for controlling multiple clutches. KR 20220045779A discloses closed loop valves and adjustment to at least one of the system pressure prior to engaging. US 20210207708 discloses a high pressure portion, which is a system pressure and a low pressure portion which is controlled or adjusted compared to the high pressure portion. US 2016/0161000 discloses a manual valve and a regulated valve for clutches.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to STACEY A FLUHART whose telephone number is (571)270-1851. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th 9AM-7PM.
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/STACEY A FLUHART/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3655
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