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 drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(4) because reference characters "11" and "10" have both been used to designate the same element.
Reference characters "21" and "20" have both been used to designate the same element.
Reference characters cannot share the same leader line. Furthermore, reference characters denoting an overall element (such as a wheel rim) should include an arrowhead at the end of its leader line.
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. 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.
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 1-10 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 1 is indefinite due to the fact that it is unclear how the outer peripheral edge is extending “inwardly and axially”. Namely, it is unclear whether this phrase is meant to describe that the outer peripheral surface extends “axially inwardly”, or some other orientation where “inwardly” is a different direction than “axially”.
Claim 1 is also indefinite due to the fact that it is unclear how the joint portion is “spaced from” the side walls. No directional indicators (i.e. axially, radially, etc.) have been provided to clearly define this limitation.
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) 1-2 and 6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Chen (2010/0270852).
Per claim 1, Figure 5 of Chen shows a wheel rim 20 with reinforcement structure. The rim 20 is an integral ring frame, having an inner ring 4 with connected sidewalls 5, and an outer ring having a connecting wall 6. An outer peripheral edge 52 is connected to distal ends of each sidewall 5. The outer peripheral edge 52 extends “inwardly and axially”. Either end of the connecting wall 6 is connected to a radially extending connecting edge 515, with the outer peripheral edge 52 intersects the connecting edge 6. A joint portion 5150 is formed at an intersection of the connecting wall 6 and the connecting edge 515. The joint portion 5150 is “spaced from” the sidewalls 5. A reinforcement edge (the rim portion located between space 514 and the space holding element 34) is connected between the sidewall 5 and the connecting wall 6. A hollow support region 514 is enclosed by the sidewall 5, outer peripheral edge 52, connecting edge 515, connecting wall 6, and reinforcement edge.
Per claim 2, a predetermined distance is defined between the reinforcement edge and joint portion 5150.
Per claim 6, the reinforcement edge is a linear edge wall.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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) 3 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chen. Chen does not disclose the numerical value of the predetermined distance between the reinforcement edge and joint portion.
However, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention, and with a reasonable expectation of success, to form the predetermined distance with a numerical value suitable to prevent buckling of the sidewall, connecting edge, or connecting wall of the rim of Chen during use, without adversely affecting the weight and/or aerodynamic profile of the wheel rim.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 4-5 and 7-10 would be allowable if rewritten 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 and to include 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. The references show the structure of hollow wheel rims.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JASON R BELLINGER whose telephone number is (571)272-6680. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-4.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Samuel (Joe) Morano can be reached at (571)272-6684. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JASON R BELLINGER/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3615
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