Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/999,568

Hybrid Motor for Fluid Pump

Final Rejection §102§103
Filed
Dec 23, 2024
Priority
Dec 21, 2023 — provisional 63/613,353
Examiner
EDWARDS, LOREN C
Art Unit
3746
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Xylem Dewatering Solutions Inc.
OA Round
2 (Final)
82%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
10m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 82% — above average
82%
Career Allowance Rate
547 granted / 670 resolved
+11.6% vs TC avg
Strong +29% interview lift
Without
With
+28.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 5m
Avg Prosecution
34 currently pending
Career history
703
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.3%
-39.7% vs TC avg
§103
75.2%
+35.2% vs TC avg
§102
15.9%
-24.1% vs TC avg
§112
5.0%
-35.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 670 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §103
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 . DETAILED ACTION 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 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. Response to Amendment The Amendment filed 4/7/26 has been entered. Claims 1-3, 5, 7, 9-11, 13-18, and 20 have been amended. Claims 1-20 remain pending in the application. Applicant’s amendments to the Claims have overcome the objections previously set forth in the Non-Final Office Action mailed 4/7/26. Response to Arguments Applicant's arguments filed 4/7/26 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant has argued Morita (U.S. 2017/0282904) fails to anticipate claim 1 because Morita fails to disclose a flywheel (see Remarks filed 4/7/26, Pages 6-7). The Examiner does not find this argument persuasive. Element A of Modified Fig. 1 below has been relied upon as a flywheel. Element A points to a standard symbol for a gear of element 13 which is a geartrain per Para 34. A gear is reasonably interpreted as a type of flywheel under BRI when viewed in light of the specification because Applicant has not given a special definition to flywheel and thereby the ordinary meaning of the word is relied upon (MPEP 2111). Webster’s Dictionary defines flywheel as a wheel used for storing kinetic energy ("flywheel." Merriam-Webster.com. 2026. https://www.merriam-webster.com (20 April 2026)). Element A of Modified Fig. 1 below rotates per Fig. 1 and per the description in Para 34 - “…the crankshaft 11 is coupled to a mechanical oil pump 15 via a gear train 13. The mechanical oil pump 15 is driven by rotation of the crankshaft 11 of the engine 10…”. A person having ordinary skill in the art would recognize that a gear is a wheel with mass, and because this gear rotates it is a rotating wheel with mass, and therefore has a moment of inertia and resists changes in speed. This resistance in changing of speed of element A as it rotates necessarily means element A has stored kinetic energy. Therefore, under BRI a gear is a type of flywheel and Applicant’s argument is not found persuasive. Applicant has argued Morita (U.S. 2017/0282904) fails to anticipate claim 1 because Morita fails to disclose an engine housing (see Remarks filed 4/7/26, Pages 6-7). The Examiner does not find this argument persuasive. Element B of Modified Fig. 1 below has been relied upon as an engine housing. Fig. 1 of Morita is a schematic diagram per Para 17, and element 10 is an internal combustion engine per Para 34. An internal combustion engine must include a type of housing to enclose the combustion to make it an internal combustion engine, and element B of Modified Fig. 1 below points to that part of element 10. Therefore, Applicant’s argument is not found persuasive. Applicant has argued Morita (U.S. 2017/0282904) fails to anticipate claim 1 because Morita fails to disclose a motor housing (see Remarks filed 4/7/26, Pages 6-7). Element C of Modified Fig. 1 below has been relied upon as a motor housing. Fig. 1 of Morita is a schematic diagram per Para 17, and element 20 is a motor generator per Para 32. A person having ordinary skill in the art would recognize a motor generator necessarily includes an external structure with internal components and this external structure is thereby a type of motor housing. Therefore, Applicant’s argument is not found persuasive. Applicant has argued claims 2-20 are allowable for the same reasons as indicated above regarding claim 1 (see Remarks filed 4/7/26, Pages 6-7). The Examiner does not find this argument persuasive for the same reasons as indicated above regarding claim 1. 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. Claims 1, 3, 7-10, 14-16, and 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Morita (U.S. 2017/0282904). PNG media_image1.png 670 591 media_image1.png Greyscale Re claim 1: Morita discloses a hybrid motor (1, hybrid vehicle system - Para 31 (see Figs. 1-9 and Para 32)) for a fluid pump (15, oil pump - Para 34; 25, oil pump - Para 42; 80, valve unit - Para 34), comprising: an engine (10, engine - Para 32) having a flywheel (Modified Fig. 1 above - A (person having ordinary skill in the art would recognize element A as a type of flywheel)) and an engine housing (Modified Fig. 1 above - B (person having ordinary skill in the art would recognize a type of housing for element 10 is necessarily included at element B)); an electric motor (20, motor generator - Para 32) having an electric motor housing (Modified Fig. 1 above - C (person having ordinary skill in the art would recognize a type of housing of element 20 is necessarily included at element C)); at least one electrical storage battery (95, high voltage battery - Para 39) coupled to the electric motor (20)(Para 39); a clutch (61, engine clutch - Para 36) rotatably connected to a shaft (11, crankshaft - Para 34), the shaft (11) extending from the flywheel (Modified Fig. 1 above - A) through the electric motor (20)(see Modified Fig. 1 above); a controller (100, hybrid control unit - Para 52) configured to control the fluid pump (15, 25, 80)(Para 52 - “…a hybrid control unit (hybrid ECU) 100 that integrally controls the entire system...” (see Fig. 4)) with inputs from an operator (see Figs. 1-3 and Fig. 3 at “REQUESTED DRIVING FORCE” and Para 59 and 61-64), inputs from the fluid pump (15, 25, 80)(see Fig. 1 (person having ordinary skill in the art would recognize two way communication is shown between elements 100, 300, and 80 (see Paras 36-37))), and the controller (100) configured to control an output of the engine (10)(see Fig. 1 and Para 54) and the electric motor (20)(see Fig. 1 and Para 55); an inverter (90, inverter - Para 39) coupled between the electric motor (20) and the controller (100)(see Fig. 1), the inverter (90) providing at least a charging setting (Para 40 - “…In the case where the first motor generator 20 functions as the generator, the inverter 90 charges the high-voltage battery 95 by converting AC power generated in the first motor generator 20 into DC power…”) and a power setting (Para 40 - “…In the case where there first motor generator 20 functions as the starter motor, the driving motor, or the driving motor of the oil pump 25, the inverter 90 drives the first motor generator 20 by converting DC power supplied from the high-voltage battery 95 into AC power…”); and wherein when the inverter (90) is in the charging setting, the electric motor produces power which is stored in the at least one electrical storage battery (95)(Para 40) and when the inverter (90) is in the power setting, the electric motor is providing power as the output (Para 40). Re claim 3: Morita discloses the hybrid motor (1) for the fluid pump (15, 25, 80) of claim 1 (as described above), further comprising: a skid (Para 33 - “…hybrid traveling mode is a mode in which a vehicle is driven by a torque output from the engine and a torque output from at least one of the first motor generator 20 and the second motor generator 50…”), the skid comprising: a base to fix the engine (10) and the electric motor (20) to (see Fig. 1 and Para 33 (vehicle referenced in Para 33 would necessarily include a type of base to fix element 10 and 20 to perform function described in Para 33)), and a fuel tank (Para 34 - “..engine 10 is an internal combustion engine that generates torque by using gasoline…” (the vehicle referenced in Para 33 would necessarily include a type of fuel tank in order to perform the function described between Paras 33-34)). Re claim 7: Morita discloses the hybrid motor (1) for the fluid pump (15, 25, 80) of claim 1 (as described above), wherein when the inverter (90) is in the charging setting, power is stored until the at least one electrical storage battery (95) is fully charged (Para 64 - “…In the case where state of charge (SOC) of the high-voltage battery decreases in such a state, the motor ECU 400 may control electric power generation of the first motor generator 20…”) and when the inverter (90) is in the power setting power is added from the electric motor (20)(see Fig. 5 and Paras 65-66). Re claim 8: Morita discloses a hybrid motor (1, hybrid vehicle system - Para 31 (see Figs. 1-9 and Para 32)) for a fluid pump (15, oil pump - Para 34; 25, oil pump - Para 42; 80, valve unit - Para 34), comprising: an engine (10, engine - Para 32) having a flywheel (Modified Fig. 1 above - A (person having ordinary skill in the art would recognize element A as a type of flywheel)) and an engine housing (Modified Fig. 1 above - B (person having ordinary skill in the art would recognize a type of housing for element 10 is necessarily included at element B)); an electric motor (20, motor generator - Para 32) having an electric motor housing (Modified Fig. 1 above - C (person having ordinary skill in the art would recognize a type of housing of element 20 is necessarily included at element C)); a controller (100, hybrid control unit - Para 52) configured to control the fluid pump (15, 25, 80)(Para 52 - “…a hybrid control unit (hybrid ECU) 100 that integrally controls the entire system...” (see Fig. 4)); an inverter (90, inverter - Para 39) coupled to the electric motor (20)(see Fig. 1), the inverter (90) providing at least a charging setting (Para 40 - “…In the case where the first motor generator 20 functions as the generator, the inverter 90 charges the high-voltage battery 95 by converting AC power generated in the first motor generator 20 into DC power…”) and a power setting (Para 40 - “…In the case where there first motor generator 20 functions as the starter motor, the driving motor, or the driving motor of the oil pump 25, the inverter 90 drives the first motor generator 20 by converting DC power supplied from the high-voltage battery 95 into AC power…”); and wherein the controller controls the fluid pump (15, 25, 80)(Para 52 - “…a hybrid control unit (hybrid ECU) 100 that integrally controls the entire system...” (see Fig. 4))), an output of the engine (10)(see Fig. 1 and Para 54), and the electric motor (20)(see Fig. 1 and Para 55). Re claim 9: Morita discloses the hybrid motor (1) for the fluid pump (15, 25, 80) of claim 8 (as described above), further comprising: at least one electrical storage battery (95, high voltage battery - Para 39) coupled to the electric motor (20)(Para 39) and a clutch (61, engine clutch - Para 36) rotatably connected to a shaft (11, crankshaft - Para 34), the shaft (11) extending from the flywheel (Modified Fig. 1 above - A) through the electric motor (20)(see Modified Fig. 1 above). Re claim 10: Morita discloses the hybrid motor (1) for the fluid pump (15, 25, 80) of claim 8 (as described above), wherein when the inverter (90) is in the charging setting, the electric motor produces power which is stored in at least one electrical storage battery (95)(Para 40) and when the inverter (90) is in the power setting the electric motor is providing power as the output (Para 40). Re claim 14: Morita discloses the hybrid motor (1) for the fluid pump (15, 25, 80) of claim 10 (as described above), wherein when the inverter (90) is in the charging setting, power is stored until the at least one electrical storage battery (95) is fully charged (Para 64 - “…In the case where state of charge (SOC) of the high-voltage battery decreases in such a state, the motor ECU 400 may control electric power generation of the first motor generator 20…”) and when the inverter (90) is in the power setting power is added from the electric motor (20)(see Fig. 5 and Paras 65-66). Re claim 15: Morita discloses a hybrid motor (1, hybrid vehicle system - Para 31 (see Figs. 1-9 and Para 32)) for a fluid pump (15, oil pump - Para 34; 25, oil pump - Para 42; 80, valve unit - Para 34), comprising: an inverter (90, inverter - Para 39) in communication with an alternator (50, motor generator - Para 32), at least one electrical storage battery (95, high voltage battery - Para 39), and a controller (100, hybrid control unit - Para 52)(see Fig. 1), the inverter (90) providing at least a charging setting (see Fig. 4 and Para 63 - “…When the vehicle speed slows down , the motor ECU 400 may drives at least one of the first motor generator 20 and the second motor generator 50 in a regenerative manner , and causes the first motor generator 20 and the second motor generator 50 to generate electric power by using kinetic energy of the vehicle”) and a power setting (Para 40 - “…In the case where there first motor generator 20 functions as the starter motor, the driving motor, or the driving motor of the oil pump 25, the inverter 90 drives the first motor generator 20 by converting DC power supplied from the high-voltage battery 95 into AC power…”); the controller (100) in communication with an engine (10, engine - Para 32)(see Fig. 1), the engine having an engine housing (Modified Fig. 1 above - B (person having ordinary skill in the art would recognize a type of housing for element 10 is necessarily included at element B)), the controller (100) configured to control the fluid pump (15, 25, 80)(Para 52 - “…a hybrid control unit (hybrid ECU) 100 that integrally controls the entire system...” (see Fig. 4)) with inputs from an operator (see Figs. 1-3 and Fig. 3 at “REQUESTED DRIVING FORCE” and Para 59 and 61-64), and inputs from the fluid pump (15, 25, 80)(see Fig. 1 (person having ordinary skill in the art would recognize two way communication is shown between elements 100, 300, and 80 (see Paras 36-37))), and the controller (100) configured to control an output of the engine (10)(see Fig. 1 and Para 54) and the alternator (50)(see Fig. 1 and Para 55); and wherein when the inverter (90) is in the charging setting, the alternator (50) produces power which is stored in the at least one electrical storage battery (95)(see Fig. 4 and Para 63) and when the inverter (90) is in the power setting, an electric motor (20, motor generator - Para 32), the electric motor (20) having an electric motor housing (Modified Fig. 1 above - C (person having ordinary skill in the art would recognize a type of housing of element 20 is necessarily included at element C)), is providing power as the output (Para 40 - “…In the case where there first motor generator 20 functions as the starter motor, the driving motor, or the driving motor of the oil pump 25, the inverter 90 drives the first motor generator 20 by converting DC power supplied from the high-voltage battery 95 into AC power…”). Re claim 16: Morita discloses the hybrid motor (1) for the fluid pump (15, 25, 80) of claim 15 (as described above), wherein: the engine (10) has a flywheel (Modified Fig. 1 above - A (person having ordinary skill in the art would recognize element A as a type of flywheel)) and an engine housing (Modified Fig. 1 above - B (person having ordinary skill in the art would recognize a type of housing for element 10 is necessarily included at element B)); the at least one electrical storage battery (95) is coupled to the electric motor (20)(Para 39); and a clutch (61, engine clutch - Para 36) rotatably connected to a shaft (11, crankshaft - Para 34), the shaft (11) extending from the flywheel (Modified Fig. 1 above - A) through the electric motor (20)(see Modified Fig. 1 above). Re claim 18: Morita discloses the hybrid motor (1) for the fluid pump (15, 25, 80) of claim 16 (as described above), further comprising: a skid (Para 33 - “…hybrid traveling mode is a mode in which a vehicle is driven by a torque output from the engine and a torque output from at least one of the first motor generator 20 and the second motor generator 50…”), the skid comprising: a base to fix the engine (10) and the electric motor (20) to (see Fig. 1 and Para 33 (vehicle referenced in Para 33 would necessarily include a type of base to fix element 10 and 20 to perform function described in Para 33)), and a fuel tank (Para 34 - “..engine 10 is an internal combustion engine that generates torque by using gasoline…” (the vehicle referenced in Para 33 would necessarily include a type of fuel tank in order to perform the function described between Paras 33-34)). 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. 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. This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention. Claims 2, 11, and 17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Morita (U.S. 2017/0282904), as applied to claims 1, 10, and 15 above, in view of Skaff et al. (U.S. 2010/0265050). Re claim 2, 11, and 17: Morita discloses the hybrid motor (1) for the fluid pump (15, 25, 80) of claims 1, 10, and 15 (as described above). Morita fails to disclose the hybrid motor further comprising a display for displaying parameters of conditions of the hybrid motor and having a user selectable engine feature. Skaff teaches a hybrid motor (10, hybrid electric vehicle - Para 24) comprising a display (64, information display system - Para 22) for displaying parameters of conditions of the hybrid motor (see Fig. 2 at 94 and Para 25) and having a user selectable engine feature (78, driver-selectable gauges - Para 24)(see Fig. 2 and Paras 23-24). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modeled the hybrid motor of Morita after that of Skaff, thereby including a display in the hybrid motor of Morita for displaying parameters of the hybrid motor conditions of Morita and having a user selectable engine feature, all as taught by Skaff, for the advantage of being able to convey the state of the HEV to the operator (Skaff; Para 25). Claims 4 and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Morita (U.S. 2017/0282904), as applied to claims 3 and 18 above, in view of Sakamoto (U.S. 2015/0303660). Re claims 4 and 19: Morita discloses the hybrid motor (1) for the fluid pump (15, 25, 80) of claims 3 and 18 (as described above). Morita fails to disclose a lifting belt for fixing the inverter to the skid. Sakamoto teaches a hybrid motor (Fig. 1 (see Para 23)) comprising a lifting belt (3, bracket - Para 25 (see Figs .1-2 and Para 26)) for fixing an inverter (53, inverter - Para 23) to a skid (see Fig. 1 and Paras 25-26). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modeled the hybrid motor of Morita after that of Sakamoto, thereby including a lifting belt for fixing the inverter of Morita to the skid of Morita in the way taught by Sakamoto, for the advantage of being able to fix the inverter in place while preventing vibration from being transmitted to the inverter (Sakamoto; see Figs. 1-2 and Para 26). Claims 5 and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Morita (U.S. 2017/0282904), as applied to claims 3 and 18 above, in view of Chaney (U.S. 2005/0274556). Re claim 5: Morita discloses the hybrid motor (1) for the fluid pump (15, 25, 80) of claim 3 (as described above). Morita fails to disclose a lower section having removable trays for housing the at least one electric storage battery. Chaney teaches a hybrid motor (1, hybrid-electric powered vehicle - Para 35) comprising a lower section (5, chassis - Para 35 (see Figs. 1-4)) having removable trays (39, battery tray - Para 40) for housing at least one electric storage battery (4)(see Figs. 1-4 and Para 40) . It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modeled the hybrid motor of Morita after that of Chaney, thereby including a lower section having removable trays in the hybrid motor of Morita for housing the at least one storage battery of Morita in the way taught by Chaney, for the advantage of providing structural integrity while reducing weight (Chaney; Para 46). Re claim 20: Morita discloses the hybrid motor (1) for the fluid pump (15, 25, 80) of claim 18 (as described above). Morita fails to disclose a lower section of the skid having removable trays for housing the at least one electrical storage battery. Chaney teaches a hybrid motor (1, hybrid-electric powered vehicle - Para 35) comprising a lower section of a skid (5, chassis - Para 35 (see Figs. 1-4)) having removable trays (39, battery tray - Para 40) for housing at least one electrical storage battery (4)(see Figs. 1-4 and Para 40). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modeled the hybrid motor of Morita after that of Chaney, thereby including a lower section having removable trays in the hybrid motor of Morita for housing the at least one storage battery of Morita in the way taught by Chaney, for the advantage of providing structural integrity while reducing weight (Chaney; Para 46). Claim 6 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Morita (U.S. 2017/0282904), as applied to claim 1 above, in view of Cook et al. (U.S. 2006/0222524). Re claim 6: Morita discloses the hybrid motor (1) for the fluid pump (15, 25, 80) of claim 1 (as described above). Morita fails to disclose an elastomeric coupler coupled to the electric motor housing and to the fluid pump. Cook teaches an elastomeric coupler (30, bracket - Para 32 (see Fig. 2 at 38a, 38b, and Para 39)) coupled to an electric motor (12, electric motor - Para 29) housing (at 12 (see Fig. 2 and Para 32 - “…motor 12 housings…”)) and to a fluid pump (14, pump - Para 29)(see Fig. 2 and Para 32). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modeled the electric motor housing and fluid pump of Morita after that of Cook, thereby including an elastomeric coupler coupled to the electric motor housing and to the fluid pump of Morita in the way taught by Cook, for the advantage of absorbing relative movement between pump and motor and thereby preventing pump and motor from moving away from each other during operation (Cook; Para 32). Claims 12 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Morita (U.S. 2017/0282904), as applied to claim 8 above, in view of Simonvich (U.S. 11,732,736). Re claim 12: Morita discloses the hybrid motor (1) for the fluid pump (15, 25, 80) of claim 8 (as described above), further comprising a skid (Para 33 - “…hybrid traveling mode is a mode in which a vehicle is driven by a torque output from the engine and a torque output from at least one of the first motor generator 20 and the second motor generator 50…”), the skid comprising a base to fix the engine housing (Modified Fig. 1 above - A) and the electric motor housing (Modified Fig. 1 above - C) to (see Modified Fig. 1 above and Para 33 (vehicle referenced in Para 33 would necessarily include a type of base to fix element 10 and 20 to perform function described in Para 33)), and a fuel tank (Para 34 - “..engine 10 is an internal combustion engine that generates torque by using gasoline…” (the vehicle referenced in Para 33 would necessarily include a type of fuel tank in order to perform the function described between Paras 33-34)). Morita fails to specifically disclose the skid below the engine housing and the electric motor housing. Simonvich teaches a skid (120, slab - Col. 4, Line 61) below an engine housing (at 20 (see Fig. 1 and Col. 2, Lines 48-49 - “…engine 20 includes an SAES bell housing…”))) and an electric motor housing (at 50 (see Col. 3, Lines 16-17 where element 50 is described as an electrical generator motor and see Fig. 1 at element 50 where a person having ordinary skill in the art would recognize a type of electric motor housing is shown))(see Fig. 6). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modeled the kid of Morita after that of Simonvich, thereby arranging the skid of Morita below the engine housing of Morita and the electric motor housing of Morita in the way taught by Simonvich, for the advantage of being able to provide mounting for the drive system in a way that protects the engine (Simonvich; Col. 4, Line 61 - Col. 5, Line 15). Claims 13 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Morita (U.S. 2017/0282904) in view of Simonvich (U.S. 11,732,736), as applied to claim 12 above, and further in view of Chaney (U.S. 2005/0274556). Re claim 13: Morita/Simonvich teaches the hybrid motor (Morita; 1) for the fluid pump (Morita; 15, 25, 80) of claim 12 (as described above). Morita fails to disclose a lower section having removable trays for housing at least one electrical storage battery. Chaney teaches a hybrid motor (1, hybrid-electric powered vehicle - Para 35) comprising a lower section (5, chassis - Para 35 (see Figs. 1-4)) having removable trays (39, battery tray - Para 40) for housing at least one electrical storage battery (4)(see Figs. 1-4 and Para 40). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modeled the hybrid motor of Morita after that of Chaney, thereby including a lower section having removable trays in the hybrid motor of Morita for housing the at least one storage battery of Morita in the way taught by Chaney, for the advantage of providing structural integrity while reducing weight (Chaney; Para 46). Conclusion THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Loren C Edwards whose telephone number is (571)272-7133. The examiner can normally be reached M-R 6AM-430PM. 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, Mark Laurenzi can be reached at (571) 270-7878. 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. /LOREN C EDWARDS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3746 4/24/26
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 23, 2024
Application Filed
Dec 05, 2025
Non-Final Rejection (signed) — §102, §103
Jan 08, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103
Apr 07, 2026
Response Filed
Apr 28, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12680478
METHOD OF OPERATING A HEAT CYCLE SYSTEM, HEAT CYCLE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MODIFYING A HEAT CYCLE SYSTEM
1y 7m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12680490
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING TAILPIPE EXHAUST EMISSIONS
1y 4m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12674449
FLUID DELIVERY SYSTEMS PID AUTOTUNING
1y 6m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026
Patent 12674415
LUBRICATION SYSTEM WITH PUMP FEED FROM DE-AERATOR
1y 4m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026
Patent 12669268
CLOSED WELL LOOP FOR A GEOTHERMAL SYSTEM
1y 9m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.
Typically takes 5-10 seconds — AI-generated, attorney review required before filing

Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
82%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+28.7%)
2y 5m (~10m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 670 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

Sign in with your work email

Enter your email to receive a magic link. No password needed.

Personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) are not accepted.

Free tier: 3 strategy analyses per month