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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102/103
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 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.
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claim(s) 1-3, 6-11 and 17-19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as anticipated by or, in the alternative, under 35 U.S.C. 103 as obvious over EP 2876409 to Nagel.
Regarding Claim 1, Nagel discloses a pneumatic comparator probe (Figs. 1-4, pneumatic measuring unit 100 with diameter-adjustable pneumatic measuring mandrel
160; ¶¶ [0043]-[0061]) comprising: a probe body configured to contact a bore to be measured (Figs. 1-4, pneumatic measuring mandrel 160 with base body162 which defines a longitudinal center axis 164 and has a central through bore; ¶¶ [0043]-[0061]); a measuring component moveably connected to the probe body, the measuring component including a port through which pressurized air passes when the pneumatic comparator is in use (Figs. 1-4, pneumatic measuring mandrel 160 with measuring nozzle carriers 170-1 to 170-4 having radially oriented
measuring nozzles 172-1 to 172-4; ¶¶ [0043]-[0061]); a variable separating mechanism moveably connected to the probe body; wherein the movement of the variable separating mechanism adjusts a position of the measuring component in a direction of diametrical expansion relative to the probe body (Figs. 1-4, wedge drive for adjusting cone 180 for moving measuring nozzle carriers 170-1 to 170-4; ¶¶ [0043]-[0061]).
Regarding Claim 2, Nagel discloses the probe body has a channel cut into the probe body, and the variable separating mechanism moves in an axial direction within the channel (Figs. 1-4, base body162 with central through bore having wedge drive for adjusting cone 180; ¶¶ [0043]-[0061]).
Regarding Claim 3, Nagel discloses the variable separating mechanism is a wedge (Figs. 1-4, wedge drive for adjusting cone 180 (wedge); ¶¶ [0043]-[0061]).
Regarding Claim 6, Nagel discloses the probe body includes an internal air passage and a secondary port through which secondary pressurized air passes when the pneumatic comparator probe is in use (Figs. 1-4, air channels connected to each measuring nozzle carrier 170-1 to 170-4 having radially oriented measuring nozzles 172-1 to 172-4; ¶¶ [0043]-[0061]).
Regarding Claim 7, Nagel discloses a pneumatic comparator probe system comprising: a pneumatic comparator probe (Figs. 1-4, pneumatic measuring unit 100 with diameter-adjustable pneumatic measuring mandrel 160; ¶¶ [0043]-[0061]) that includes: a probe body configured to contact a bore to be measured (Figs. 1-4, pneumatic measuring mandrel 160 with base body162 which defines a longitudinal center axis 164 and has a central through bore; ¶¶ [0043]-[0061]); a variable separating mechanism moveably connected to the probe body (Figs. 1-4, wedge drive for adjusting cone 180 for moving measuring nozzle carriers 170-1 to 170-4; ¶¶ [0043]-[0061]); and a measuring component that contacts the variable separating mechanism, the measuring component including a port through which pressurized air passes when the pneumatic comparator probe is in use (Figs. 1-4, pneumatic measuring mandrel 160 with measuring nozzle carriers 170-1 to 170-4 having radially oriented measuring nozzles 172-1 to 172-4; ¶¶ [0043]-[0061]); wherein movement of the variable separating mechanism adjusts a position of the measuring component in a direction of diametrical expansion relative to the probe body (Figs. 1-4, wedge drive for adjusting cone 180 for moving measuring nozzle carriers 170-1 to 170-4; ¶¶ [0043]-[0061]); a gage unit that supplies the pressurized air to the measuring component (Figs. 1-4, pneumatic measuring unit 100 supplying air from compressed air source to diameter-adjustable pneumatic measuring mandrel 160; ¶¶ [0043]-[0061]) and includes: a rigid framework to which the probe body is connected (Figs. 1-4, vertical column 112 connected to diameter-adjustable pneumatic measuring mandrel 160; ¶¶ [0043]-[0061]); a movable measuring carriage, where the measuring component is attached to the measuring carriage (Figs. 1-4, movable carriage 114 connected between vertical column 112 and diameter-adjustable pneumatic measuring mandrel 160; ¶¶ [0043]-[0061]); and a control system that measures a characteristic representative of a flow rate of the pressurized air and determines a diameter of the workpiece at the location by comparison to one or more master rings having a known inside diameter (Figs. 1-4, control unit 122 of measuring unit with calibration ring 198 and diameter-adjustable pneumatic measuring mandrel 160 with measuring transducer connected to the measuring nozzle via a pressure line to convert (pneumatic) pressure signal into an electrically processable voltage signal; ¶¶ [0007], [0043]-[0061]).
Regarding Claim 8, Nagel discloses the probe body has a channel cut into the probe body, and the variable separating mechanism moves in an axial direction within the channel (Figs. 1-4, base body 162 with central through bore having wedge drive for adjusting cone 180; ¶¶ [0043]-[0061]).
Regarding Claim 9, Nagel discloses the control system measures a characteristic representative of the position of the measuring component relative to the probe body (Figs. 1-4, control unit 122 of measuring unit with diameter-adjustable pneumatic measuring mandrel 160 with measuring transducer connected to the measuring nozzle via a pressure line to convert (pneumatic) pressure signal into an electrically processable voltage signal; ¶¶ [0007], [0043]-[0061]).
Regarding Claim 10, Nagel discloses the moveable measuring carriage is biased toward the probe body by a carriage biasing spring (Figs. 1-4, compression spring 185 between movable carriage 114 connected between vertical column 112 and base body 162 of diameter-adjustable pneumatic measuring mandrel 160; ¶¶ [0043]-[0061]).
Regarding Claim 11, Nagel discloses the variable separating mechanism is a wedge (Figs. 1-4, wedge drive for adjusting cone 180 (wedge); ¶¶ [0043]-[0061]).
Regarding Claim 17, Nagel discloses the probe body includes an internal air passage and a secondary port through which secondary pressurized air passes when the pneumatic comparator probe is in use (Figs. 1-4, air channels connected to each measuring nozzle carrier 170-1 to 170-4 having radially oriented measuring nozzles 172-1 to 172-4; ¶¶ [0043]-[0061]).
Regarding Claims 18-19, the method of the claims appears to be met by the operation of the system of claims 7-8.
Claim(s) 7-11 and 17-19 is/are rejected in the alternative under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nagel in view of US 3154939 to Dabanian.
Assuming arguendo that Nagel does not sufficiently disclose determining the diameter of the workpiece at the location by comparison to one or more master rings having a known inside diameter, Dabanian discloses determining the diameter of the workpiece at the location by comparison to one or more master rings having a known inside diameter (Col. 2, lines 41-47). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing of the application to modify the invention of Nagel by providing determining the diameter of the workpiece at the location by comparison to one or more master rings having a known inside diameter as in Dabanian in order to provide for greater accuracy.
Claim(s) 4-5 and 15-16 is/are rejected in the alternative under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nagel in view of US 3646685 to Goodenough.
Regarding Claims 4 and 15, Nagel discloses the pneumatic comparator probe of claim 1 and the pneumatic comparator probe system of claim 7, but is silent regarding the probe body has a bore contacting surface that is truncated. Goodenough discloses the probe body has a bore contacting surface that is truncated (Figs. 1-3, probe 12 of gaging head assembly with a substantially solid cylindrical body portion 16 having a smooth peripheral outer surface 18 and a flat front surface 20 provided with a circumferential chamfer 22; Col. 3, lines 5-10). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing of the application to modify the invention of Nagel by providing the probe body has a bore contacting surface that is truncated as in Goodenough in order to provide for greater ease of insertion.
Regarding Claims 4 and 15, Nagel discloses the pneumatic comparator probe of claim 1 and the pneumatic comparator probe system of claim 7, but is silent regarding a relieved bore contacting surface of the probe body has a raised area that is diametrically opposed to the port. Goodenough discloses a relieved bore contacting surface of the probe body has a raised area that is diametrically opposed to the port (Figs. 1-34, block insert 64 in recess 46; Col. 3, lines 54 – Col. 4, line 9). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing of the application to modify the invention of Nagel by providing a relieved bore contacting surface of the probe body has a raised area that is diametrically opposed to the port as in Goodenough in order to provide for ease of extraction.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 12-14 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
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DAVID J BOLDUC whose telephone number is (571)270-1602. The examiner can normally be reached M-F, 10am-6pm.
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, Walter Lindsay, Jr. can be reached at (571) 272-1672. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/DAVID J BOLDUC/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2852
