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 Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: line 10 claim 1, “a first coil segment;” should be change to – a first coil segment: --. Appropriate correction is required.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 1-2 rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. (12,184,140 B2). Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because
Instant Application
U.S. Patent No. (12,184,140 B2)
1. A motor winding comprising:
a wire:
defining a wire width along a primary wire axis;
defining a wire thickness along a secondary wire axis, the wire thickness less than the wire width; and
wound in a continuous angular direction about a coil axis to form a continuous coil comprising:
a first terminal;
a second terminal adjacent the first terminal;
a first coil segment;
comprising a first length of the wire spiraling in a first plane parallel to the secondary wire axis and perpendicular to the primary wire axis of the first length of the wire;
defining a first exterior coil end coupled to the first terminal; and
defining a first interior coil end inset from the first exterior coil end and arranged on a first side of the coil axis;
a second coil segment:
comprising a second length of the wire spiraling in a second plane parallel to the secondary wire axis and perpendicular to the primary wire axis of the second length of the wire, the second plane parallel and offset from the first plane;
defining a second exterior coil end coupled to the second terminal; and
defining a second interior coil end:
inset from the second exterior coil end; and
arranged on a second side of the coil axis opposite the first interior coil end.
2. The motor winding of claim 1: wherein the wire is wound in the continuous angular direction about the coil axis to form the continuous coil further comprising: a junction segment:
comprising a third length of the wire extending between the first plane and the second plane to couple the first interior coil end of the first coil segment to the second interior coil end of the second coil segment.
1. A motor winding comprising:
a wire:
defining a wire width along a primary wire axis;
defining a wire thickness along a secondary wire axis, the wire thickness less than the wire width; and
wound in a continuous angular direction about a coil axis to form a continuous coil comprising:
a first terminal;
a second terminal adjacent the first terminal;
a first coil segment:
comprising a first length of the wire spiraling in a first plane parallel to the secondary wire axis and perpendicular to the primary wire axis of the first length of the wire;
defining a first exterior coil end coupled to the first terminal; and
defining a first interior coil end inset from the first exterior coil end and arranged on a first side of the coil axis;
a second coil segment:
comprising a second length of the wire spiraling in a second plane parallel to the secondary wire axis and perpendicular to the primary wire axis of the second length of the wire, the second plane parallel and offset from the first plane;
defining a second exterior coil end coupled to the second terminal; and
defining a second interior coil end:
inset from the second exterior coil end; and
arranged on a second side of the coil axis opposite the first interior coil end; and
a junction segment:
comprising a third length of the wire extending between the first plane and the second plane to couple the first interior coil end of the first coil segment to the second interior coil end of the second coil segment.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Lines (US 2022/0094228 A1) teaches a conductive coil 12 for a yokeless axial flux electrical machine stator 1 with distributed windings and flux guides 30, a stator 1 comprising a plurality of such coils, a yokeless axial flux electrical machine 100 comprising the stator 1, and a method 500 of manufacturing a stator 1 are provided. The conductive coil 12 comprises a first active section 121 a and a second active section 121 b, each active section 121 a, 121 b extending in a generally radial direction substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the electrical machine and comprising a plurality of winding turn portions 131a, 131 b stacked parallel to the axis of rotation such that a cross-section perpendicular to the radial direction of each active section 121a, 121 b is elongate with a major dimension parallel to the axis of rotation. The second active section 121 b is pitched apart in a circumferential direction and axially offset from the first active section 121 a.
Jone et al. (US 2004/0021391 A1) teaches an arrangement of coils of different configurations for use in the stator of a slotless radial gap electromotive machine is described. The coils include coils of a first configuration and a second configuration. Each coil includes longitudinal sections and circumferential sections that form a substantially rectangular opening in the coil. The coils are nested together along the inside of a stator core so that the longitudinal sections of each coil of the first configuration are disposed in the rectangular openings of neighboring coils of the second configuration, and the longitudinal sections of the coils of the second configuration are disposed in the rectangular openings of neighboring coils of the first configuration. Other configurations of coils can be nested together inside the stator core to provide one or more additional layers of stator coils.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LEDA T PHAM whose telephone number is (571)272-5806. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 8:00-5:00.
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, 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.
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.
/LEDA T PHAM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2834
Prosecution Insights