DETAILED ACTION
This is the First Office Action in response to the above identified patent
application filed on November 26, 2024.
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 under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the limitation “the hub portion has a radial thickness that varies around a circumference thereof, wherein a first radial thickness measured between the inner diameter and the minor diameter is less than a second radial thickness measured between the inner diameter and the outer diameter” claim 2) must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
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. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. 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 2 and 5-7 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 2, the limitation “a second radial thickness measured between the inner diameter and the outer diameter” is not clear if applicant is referencing the “major outer diameter” (line 6 of claim 1), the “minor outer diameter” (lines 6-7 of claim 1), or some other “outer diameter” (not defined in claim 1).
Claim 5, the limitation “mirror-like finish” is considered a relative term, and fails to clearly define the metes and bounds of the desired patent protection.
The limitations of claims 6-7 are considered method limitations used to define how the annular component is made. A method limitation in an apparatus claim is given limited weight. An apparatus claim must define over the prior art in terms of its structure and not the method from which the apparatus is made.
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) 1-9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Suh et al. (USP 4,397,171).
Suh teaches a splined annular component, comprising: a radial flange segment (12); an axially-extending hub segment (14,16) integrally formed with the radial flange segment; a plurality of splines formed on a radially outer surface of the hub segment (Fig. 2), wherein the splines include a major outer diameter (adjacent reference character 16 in Fig. 1) and a minor outer diameter (adjacent reference character 14 in Fig. 1); and a continuous inner diameter formed on a radially inner surface of the hub segment (opposite surface from the minor outer diameter), wherein the minor outer diameter is smooth (no splines) and formed without machining (the entire annular component is made using only forming dies), and wherein the inner diameter is smooth and formed without machining (the entire annular component is made using only forming dies).
Alternatively, the method of making the annular component, such as “formed without machining,” has been given limited patentable weight. An apparatus claim must define over the prior art in terms of its structure and not the method from which the apparatus is made.
Claim 2: Suh illustrates, as best understood, the hub portion has a radial thickness that varies around a circumference thereof, wherein a first radial thickness measured between the inner diameter and the minor diameter is less than a second radial thickness measured between the inner diameter and the outer diameter.
Claim 3: Suh illustrates a chamfer portion (adjacent reference character 14, Fig. 1) disposed at an intersection of the flange segment (12) and the hub segment (16), wherein the chamfer portion is formed without machining.
Claim 4: Suh illustrates (Fig. 1) the chamfer portion has an outwardly facing concave profile and an inwardly facing convex profile.
Claim 5: Suh teaches, as best understood, the minor diameter and the major diameter include a smooth finish.
Claim 6: Suh teaches the component is formed from a blank.
Claim 7: Suh teaches the component is formed in a transfer press.
Claim 8: Suh teaches the flange segment, hub segment, and splines are pressed and formed from a common blank.
Claim 9: Suh teaches (inherent in pressing operations) the inner diameter includes vertically extending witness marks circumferentially aligned with the minor diameter.
Claim(s) 1-9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Johnson et al. (USP 6,694,791).
Johnson teaches a splined annular component, comprising: a radial flange segment (12); an axially-extending hub segment (14,16) integrally formed with the radial flange segment; a plurality of splines formed (50) on a radially outer surface of the hub segment (Fig. 10), wherein the splines include a major outer (Fig. 11) diameter and a minor outer diameter (Fig. 11); and a continuous inner diameter formed on a radially inner surface of the hub segment (Fig. 11), wherein the minor outer diameter is smooth (no splines) and formed without machining (the entire annular component is made using only forming dies, lines 34-36 of column 1), and wherein the inner diameter is smooth and formed without machining (the entire annular component is made using only forming dies).
Alternatively, the method of making the annular component, such as “formed without machining,” has been given limited patentable weight. An apparatus claim must define over the prior art in terms of its structure and not the method from which the apparatus is made.
Claim 2: Johnson illustrates, as best understood, the hub portion has a radial thickness that varies around a circumference thereof, wherein a first radial thickness measured between the inner diameter and the minor diameter is less than a second radial thickness measured between the inner diameter and the outer diameter.
Claim 3: Johnson illustrates a chamfer portion (adjacent 81/108) disposed at an intersection of the flange segment (12) and the hub segment (16), wherein the chamfer portion is formed without machining.
Claim 4: Johnson illustrates (Fig. 11) the chamfer portion has an outwardly facing concave profile and an inwardly facing convex profile.
Claim 5: Johnson teaches, as best understood, the minor diameter and the major diameter include a mirror-like finish. See lines 15-18 of column 4.
Claim 6: Johnson teaches the component is formed from a blank.
Claim 7: Johnson teaches the component is formed in a transfer press.
Claim 8: Johnson teaches the flange segment, hub segment, and splines are pressed and formed from a common blank.
Claim 9: Johnson teaches (inherent in pressing operations) the inner diameter includes vertically extending witness marks circumferentially aligned with the minor diameter.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to WILLIAM C JOYCE whose telephone number is (571)272-7107. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:30-5:00.
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, Minnah Seoh can be reached at 571-270-7778. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/WILLIAM C JOYCE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3618
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