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 § 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 6 and 7-12 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 6 recites the limitation "the required cord helix angle" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 7 recites the limitation "the restraining cylinder" in line 8. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 7 recites the limitation "the piston" in line 9. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 7 recites the limitation "the cord tension" in line 9. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 8 recites the limitation "the required cord helix angle" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Regarding claim 10 lines 1, 4 and 5, the recited limitations “a restraining cylinder”, “a piston” and “an air sleeve” should be modified upon correction of claim 7, as it is unclear if these limitations are intended to reference the limitations recited in claim 7.
Claim 11 recites the limitation "said cap" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
Claim(s) 1-12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US 2022/0034381 A1 to Lee.
Re-claim 1, Lee discloses an air spring comprising: a cap 10; a restraining cylinder 44; a piston 20; an air sleeve 30 extends between a first end secured to the cap, and a second end secured to the piston defining an air chamber 38 extending between the cap and the piston; the air sleeve has a first section 411 a second section 415, and a third section 413, the second section is between the first and third sections (see figure 3A), the first section has axial cords, the third section has cords in a cross-ply arrangement, the second section has a combination of axial and cross-ply cords; the air spring combines the benefits of great torsion decoupling and dimensional stability with the ability to twist (due to the cord arrangement, as consistent with the instant invention), the first section allows for twist and provides low stiffness to twist (due to axial arrangement of the cords), the second section supports by the restraining cylinder to secure the cord tension under inner air pressure (due to combined cord arrangement) and the third section provides durability (see also paragraphs 9-10). It is noted the prior art air sleeve is capable of use with the recited air spring structure (see paragraph 3).
Re-claim 2, the air sleeve has a primary end and a secondary end; the primary end is secured to the cap 10 and the secondary end is secured to the piston 20 defining a pocket which is an airtight cavity.
Re-claim 3, the air sleeve is a composite structure of polymer cord reinforcement and rubberlike material for the matrix (see paragraphs 3 and 5).
Re-claim 4, Figure 6 shows an arrangement with a crimp 70 ring abutting the air sleeve to sandwich the air sleeve between the crimp ring and the restraining cylinder 44 to secure the air sleeve to the restraining cylinder.
Re-claim 5, the third section 413 includes a first ply at a first angle and a second ply at a second angle (see figure 3A and examples in figures 1A and 1B), the first and second plies are overlaid one on top the other.
Re-claim 6, the cords are defined by straight-line extruded cord and rubber layers cut and laid at the required cord helix angle on a straight building mandrel and vulcanized.
Re-claim 7, Lee discloses in figure 3A an air-sleeve adapted for use in an air spring, the air-sleeve comprising: a first section 411 a second section 415, and a third section 413, the second section 415 is between the first and third sections, the first section has axial cords, the third section have cords in a cross-ply arrangement, the second section has a combination of axial and cross-ply cords (figure 3A); the air-sleeve combines the benefits of great torsion decoupling and dimensional stability with the ability to twist (see paragraphs 9-10), the first section allows for twist and provides low stiffness to twist the second section is adapted to be supported by a restraining cylinder 44 to secure the cord tension under inner air pressure and the third section rolls against a piston 20 to allow the axial stroke.
Re-claim 8, the cords are defined by a straight-line extruded cord and rubber layers cut and laid at the required cord helix angle on a straight building mandrel and vulcanized.
Re-claim 9, the third section includes a first ply at a first angle and a second ply at a second angle, the first and second plies being overlaid one in top the other (see figures 1A and 3A).
Re-claim 10, the restraining cylinder 44 defines a compartment; a cap 10 and the piston 20 are disposed in the compartment; the air sleeve 30 is disposed in the compartment and extends between a first end secured to the cap (at 50), and a second end secured to the piston (at 60) and defining a chamber extending between the cap and the piston; the air sleeve is mounted adjacent the restraining cylinder.
Re-claim 11, the air sleeve has a primary end and a secondary end; the primary end (at 50) is secured to the cap and the secondary end (at 60) is secured to the piston defining a pocket.
Re-claim 12, the air sleeve is tied at both ends by crimp rings 50/60 connecting the air sleeve to the cap 10 and the piston 20.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Uruta, Hartwig and Nara each teach an air sleeve with a combination of plies.
Any inquiries concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
examiner should be directed to Thomas Williams whose telephone number is 571-272-7128.
The examiner can normally be reached on Tuesday-Friday from 6:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's
supervisor, Robert Siconolfi, can be reached at 571-272-7124. The fax phone number for the
organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Any inquiry of a general nature or relating to the status of this application or proceeding
should be directed to the receptionist whose telephone number is 571-272-6584.
TJW /THOMAS J WILLIAMS/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3616 September 17, 2026
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