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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS’s) submitted on 05/15/2025, 09/12/2024 and 09/17/2025 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.
Claim(s) 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a1) as being anticipated by Rayner (WO 2005088805).
Regarding claim 1, Rayner discloses:
A linear actuator (abstract) comprising:
one or more coils (86, Figs 30,31) arranged on a central axis (by 84) and configured to generate a first magnetic field; and
a plunger (84) for movement along a linear axis when acted upon by the first magnetic field, the plunger having a second magnetic field (since it is ferro magnetic, page 20, last para),
wherein the second magnetic field is an asymmetrical magnetic field distribution (page 27, first para).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 12-20 are allowed.
In claim 12 inter alia, the specific limitations of “…wherein the plunger has a first peak flux density at a first end portion of the plunger and a second peak flux density at a second opposing end of the plunger”, in the combination as claimed are neither anticipated nor made obvious over the prior art made of record.
Claims 13-17 are also allowable for depending on claim 12.
In claim 18 inter alia, the specific limitations of “…wherein the plunger comprises a series of magnets in a linear arrangement, wherein at least a portion of each magnet in the series of magnets varies in diameter relative to an adjacent magnet in the series of magnets”, in the combination as claimed are neither anticipated nor made obvious over the prior art made of record.
Claims 19-20 are also allowable for depending on claim 18.
Claims 2-11 are 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 following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: In claim 2/1 inter alia, the specific limitations of “…wherein, via the asymmetrical magnetic field distribution, the linear actuator is configured to have a maximum stroke length in a range of two to five times a length of the one or more coils wherein, via the asymmetrical magnetic field distribution, the linear actuator is configured to have a maximum stroke length in a range of two to five times a length of the one or more coils.”, in the combination as claimed are neither anticipated nor made obvious over the prior art made of record.
In claim 3/1 inter alia, the specific limitations of “wherein the plunger comprises a first series of magnets and a second series of magnets in a push-pull topology, wherein the asymmetrical magnetic field distribution comprises a first peak flux density at a first end portion of the plunger and a second flux density peak at a second end portion of the plunger, and wherein the first series of magnets and the second series of magnets in the push-pull topology are configured such that, as the plunger moves along the linear axis, one of the first series of magnets or the second series of magnets pushes and the other of the first series of magnets or the second series of magnets pulls.”, in the combination as claimed are neither anticipated nor made obvious over the prior art made of record.
In claim 4/1 inter alia, the specific limitations of “wherein the plunger comprises a series of magnets in a linear arrangement, wherein a first magnet in the series of magnets has a greater mass of magnetic material and is disposed at a first end portion of the series of magnets, and wherein a second magnet in the series of magnets has a smaller mass of magnetic material and is disposed at a second opposing end portion of the series of magnets.”, in the combination as claimed are neither anticipated nor made obvious over the prior art made of record.
Claims 5-7 are also allowable for depending on claim 4.
In claim 8/1 inter alia, the specific limitations of “wherein the plunger comprises a first series of magnets and a second series of magnets in a linear arrangement, wherein the first series of magnets comprises: a first magnet having a greater mass of magnetic material relative to other magnets in the first series of magnets and disposed at a first end portion of the first series of magnets; and a second magnet having smaller mass of magnetic material relative to other magnets in the first series of magnets and disposed at a second opposing end portion of the first series of magnets; and wherein the second series of magnets comprises: a first magnet having a smaller mass of magnetic material relative to other magnets in the second series of magnets and disposed at a first end portion of the second series of magnets; and a second magnet having greater mass of magnetic material relative to other magnets in the second series of magnets and disposed at a second opposing end portion of the second series of magnets.”, in the combination as claimed are neither anticipated nor made obvious over the prior art made of record.
Claims 9/8 are also allowable for depending on claim 8.
In claim 10/1 inter alia, the specific limitations of “wherein the plunger comprises a cylindrical body with a portion of its volume hollowed out such that a magnetic permeability of the plunger varies along a length of the plunger.”, in the combination as claimed are neither anticipated nor made obvious over the prior art made of record.
Claims 11/10 are also allowable for depending on claim 10.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Please see PTO-892 for details.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NAISHADH N DESAI whose telephone number is (571)270-3038. The examiner can normally be reached 9-5.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Christopher M Koehler can be reached at 571-272-3560. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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NAISHADH N. DESAI
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2834
/NAISHADH N DESAI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2834
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