DETAILED ACTION
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) 1-3 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Tanae (US 8,444,528).
Regarding claim 1, Tanae teaches: a drive device for a hybrid electric vehicle, wherein:
a first electric motor (MG1) and a motive power distribution mechanism are disposed on a first axis line (A1), the motive power distribution mechanism including an output rotating member (I) provided with a drive gear (12) to distribute and transmit motive power from an engine (E) to the first electric motor and the output rotating member;
a driven gear mechanism (including at least element 14) is disposed on a second axis line (A3), the driven gear mechanism having a driven gear (14) that meshes with the drive gear;
a second electric motor (MG2) to be coupled to the driven gear mechanism is disposed on a third axis line (A2);
a differential gear (18) to be coupled to the driven gear mechanism is disposed on a fourth axis line (A4);
the first electric motor, the motive power distribution mechanism, the second electric motor, the driven gear mechanism, and the differential gear are housed in a case (2, 3a);
the case includes a first case (2) and a second case (3a), the first case being fastened to the engine and housing the first electric motor, the motive power distribution mechanism, the second electric motor, the driven gear mechanism, and the differential gear, the second case being fastened so as to close an opening of the first case on an opposite side of the engine; and
an in-vehicle unit (3c) that also serves as a vibration restraining member (element 3c at least partially restrains vibration by reinforcing the lower side of the second case) is disposed at a position overlapping with a line segment (LS) connecting the first axis line and the third axis line on the second case.
See Fig. 1, and the annotated version of Fig. 1, below:
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Regarding claim 2, Tanae further teaches: wherein the first case further houses an electric power control unit (21) that controls electric power exchanged between the first electric motor and the second electric motor and a battery. See Fig. 1.
Regarding claim 3, Tanae further teaches: wherein the second case includes an attachment bearing surface for a vehicle body mounting member (3b) that is provided above the line segment in a vertical direction, and the in-vehicle unit that also serves as the vibration restraining member is disposed in a range directly below the attachment bearing surface in the vertical direction. See the annotated version of Fig. 1, above.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Additional cited art relates to drive devices having relevant cases, gearings, or configurations relevant to the claimed invention.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to EMMA K FRICK whose telephone number is (571)270-5403. The examiner can normally be reached 9AM-5PM EST M, T, F.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Allen Shriver can be reached at (303) 297-4324. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/EMMA K FRICK/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3613
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