DETAILED ACTION
The Art Unit location of your application in the PTO has changed. To aid in correlating any papers for this application, all further correspondence regarding this application should be directed to Group Art Unit 2691.
This communication is responsive to the claims filed 10/04/2024.
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
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 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.
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 1-2 and 10-11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Zhang (U. S. Pat. App. Pub. No. – 2005/0099255).
Regarding claim 1, Zhang discloses an motor assembly for a loudspeaker, comprising: a permanent magnet (102) having a central bore therein (163); a top plate (103A) above the permanent magnet; a back plate (103B) below the permanent magnet; a pole piece (113) extending up from the back plate into the central bore of the permanent magnet and having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the interior surface defines a central air channel (114), and wherein the exterior surface defines an annular space between the pole piece and the surrounding permanent magnet; two or more vertical vent channels (182) extending down from the annular space and through the back plate; an air flow cap (181) positioned over the pole piece, wherein the air flow cap comprises two or more vent spaces in fluid communication with the central air channel; an annular air gap (205-206)formed between the pole piece and the surrounding top plate; and a voice coil assembly (207, 209) disposed within the annular air gap; and wherein the pole piece extends above the top plate (Figs. 1-2).
Regarding claim 2, Zhang further discloses the motor assembly, wherein the voice coil assembly comprises: windings made of a conductive wire (1009); and a former (1007) supporting the windings; and wherein the voice coil assembly resides below the air flow cap and is configured to oscillate along the annular air gap in response to electrical signals (Fig. 21).
Method claims 10-11 are similar to claims 1-2 except for being couched in method terminology; such method would be inherent when the structure is shown in the references.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3-9 and 12-18 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.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SUHAN NI whose telephone number is (571)272-7505. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday to Friday from 10:00 am to 6:30 pm.
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/SUHAN NI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2691
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