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 .
Drawings
The subject matter of this application admits of illustration by a drawing to facilitate understanding of the invention. Applicant is required to furnish a drawing under 37 CFR 1.81(c). No new matter may be introduced in the required drawing. 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).
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the following must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered:
each of the at least one inner lubricating passage includes a lubricating channel having a first end at the inner lubricating groove and a second end at one of the outer bores [claim 12];
the at least one inner lubricating passage comprises a circumferentially extending inner lubricating channel formed in the cylindrical inner surface and intersecting the outer bores [claim 15];
each of the at least one outer lubricating passage includes an outer lubricating channel having a first end at the at least one outer lubricating groove and a second end at one of the outer bores [claim 16];
the at least one outer lubricating passage comprises a circumferentially extending outer lubricating channel formed in the cylindrical outer surface and intersecting the outer bores [claim 19];
each of the at least one inner lubricating passage includes an inner lubricating channel having a first end at the at least one inner lubricating groove and a second end at one of the outer bores and each of the at least one outer lubricating passage includes an outer lubricating channel having a first end at the at least one outer lubricating groove and a second end at one of the outer bores [claim 20];
the at least one inner lubricating passage comprises a circumferentially extending inner lubricating channel formed in the cylindrical inner surface an intersecting the outer bores, and wherein the at least one outer lubricating passage comprises a circumferentially extending outer lubricating channel formed in the cylindrical outer surface and intersecting the outer bores [claim 23].
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.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: The Specification discloses the lubricating passages 14 and 18 can each be grooves. The Specification also goes on to disclose reference number 16 can be a passage. The Specification also discloses reference number 20 as a passage or as a channels.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 11-23 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.
Claim 11 recites “at least one inner lubricating passage” in line 6. The Specification discloses on page 6, “the lubricating passages 14, 18”. And page 7 discloses “the passages 16 for fluidic connection to the inner bore 4.” The inter-changing of terminology among various components can lead to confusion as to the scope and structure of the invention.
Claims 16, 19, 20 and 23 recite “the at least one outer lubricating passage”. The claims go on to recite “an outer lubricating channel”. The Specification discloses on page 6, “the lubricating passages 14, 18 are each configured as lubricating grooves 14, 18 in combination with channels”. The Specification discloses on page 7, “the outer bores 12 can have further passages or channels 20…via these channels 20, the outer bores 12 are connected fluidically to the lubricating groove 18 in the outer shell surface 6.”
According to the description provided in the Specification, the “outer lubricating passage” and the “outer lubricating channel” are the same element of the invention. Applicant has not disclosed an invention that has both “at least one outer lubricating passage” and “an outer lubricating channel”.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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) 11, 12, 14 -16, 18-20, 22 and 23 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by KEMPF (US 7,252,615).
Regarding claim 11, as best understood by the Examiner, KEMPF discloses a planet carrier (26, 28) comprising: a cylindrical disc-shaped body having a cylindrical outer surface (See annotated Figure 1 below, A) and a cylindrical inner surface (See annotated Figure 1 below, B), the cylindrical inner surface defining a central inner bore, and a plurality of outer bores (29) at locations radially between the inner bore and the outer surface, each of the outer bores being configured to receive a planet bearing or to form an outer ring of a planet bearing (the holes (29) are capable of receiving a bearing and are capable of being the outer ring of a bearing), wherein at least one inner lubricating passage (38, 40, 46) extends from the cylindrical inner surface to each of the outer bores, and/or wherein at least one outer lubricating passage (64) extends from the outer cylindrical surface to each of the outer bores.
Regarding claim 12, as best understood by the Examiner, KEMPF discloses the planet carrier includes the at least one inner lubricating passage (38, 40, 46), wherein the cylindrical inner surface includes at least one circumferentially extending inner lubricating groove (38), and wherein each of the at least one inner lubricating passage (38, 40, 46) includes a lubricating channel (40) having a first end at the inner lubricating groove and a second end at one of the outer bores.
Regarding claim 14, as best understood by the Examiner, KEMPF discloses the outer bores (29) are configured to form the outer rings of the planet bearings.
Regarding claim 15, as best understood by the Examiner, KEMPF discloses the planet carrier includes the at least one inner lubricating passage (38, 40, 46), and wherein the at least one inner lubricating passage comprises a circumferentially extending inner lubricating channel (46) formed in the cylindrical inner surface and intersecting the outer bores.
Regarding claim 16, as best understood by the Examiner, KEMPF discloses the planet carrier includes the at least one outer lubricating passage (64), wherein the cylindrical outer surface includes at least one circumferentially extending outer lubricating groove (61,65), and wherein each of the at least one outer lubricating passage includes an outer lubricating channel (formed by slots 54) having a first end at the at least one outer lubricating groove and a second end at one of the outer bores.
Regarding claim 18, as best understood by the Examiner, KEMPF discloses the outer bores (29) are configured to form the outer rings of the planet bearings.
Regarding claim 19, as best understood by the Examiner, KEMPF discloses the planet carrier includes the at least one outer lubricating passage (64), and wherein the at least one outer lubricating passage comprises a circumferentially extending outer lubricating channel (61, 65) formed in the cylindrical outer surface and intersecting the outer bores.
Regarding claim 20, as best understood by the Examiner, KEMPF discloses the planet carrier includes the at least one inner lubricating passage (46) and the at least one outer lubricating passage (64), wherein the cylindrical inner surface includes at least one circumferentially extending inner lubricating groove (38) and the cylindrical outer surface includes at least one circumferentially extending outer lubricating groove (61, 65), and wherein each of the at least one inner lubricating passage (46) includes an inner lubricating channel (40) having a first end at the at least one inner lubricating groove and a second end at one of the outer bores (29) and each of the at least one outer lubricating passage includes an outer lubricating channel (formed by the slot 54) having a first end at the at least one outer lubricating groove and a second end at one of the outer bores.
Regarding claim 22, as best understood by the Examiner, KEMPF discloses the outer bores are configured to form the outer rings of the planet bearings.
Regarding claim 23, as best understood by the Examiner, KEMPF discloses the planet carrier includes the at least one inner lubricating passage and the at least one outer lubricating passage, wherein the at least one inner lubricating passage comprises a circumferentially extending inner lubricating channel (46) formed in the cylindrical inner surface an intersecting the outer bores (29), and wherein the at least one outer lubricating passage comprises a circumferentially extending outer lubricating channel (64) formed in the cylindrical outer surface and intersecting the outer bores (29).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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.
Claim(s) 13, 17, and 21 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over KEMPF (US 7,252,615) as applied to claims 11, 12, 14 -16, 18-20, 22 and 23 above, and further in view of SHERIDAN (US 2016/0377165 A1).
Regarding claims 13, 17, and 21, as best understood by the Examiner, KEMPF discloses the planet carrier, but does not disclose planet bearings in each of the outer bores (29).
SHERIDAN teaches a planet carrier with bearings (78).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the planet carrier of KEMPF to have planet bearings, in view of SHERIDAN, to allow for higher load support, higher RPMs, and longer life of the carrier.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DEREK D. KNIGHT whose telephone number is (571)272-7951. The examiner can normally be reached Telework: From 5:30am-1:30pm EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ramya P Burgess can be reached at 571-272-6011. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/DEREK D KNIGHT/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3655