DETAILED ACTION
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement filed 01/22/2026 fails to comply with 37 CFR 1.98(a)(2), which requires a legible copy of each cited foreign patent document; each non-patent literature publication or that portion which caused it to be listed; and all other information or that portion which caused it to be listed. It has been placed in the application file, but the information referred to therein has not been considered where indicated.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
Claims 1-6, 11-12, 14-15, and 17-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being clearly anticipated by (JP S63-10087).
The current application is related to JP2024-001878 and the current claims are substantially similar in scope to the corresponding JP claims. By adopting and incorporating herein by reference the explanations of the closest prior art as set forth in the Search Report, 1 the examiner meets the burdens of 35 U.S.C. 132(a)2 [e.g., insomuch as the reasons for rejection and references are stated and the Search Report provides such information as may be useful in judging the propriety of continuing the prosecution of this application] and 37 CFR 1.104(c)(2)3 [e.g., insomuch as the explanations of the Search Report are sufficient to make the pertinence of each reference apparent]. See the copy of the Search Report filed in this current application on 10/29/2024.
4. The joint unit according to claim 1, further comprising: a second shaft (fig. 2) that rotatably supports a second gear that is a gear different from the first gear among the two opposing bevel gears and the intermediate gear; and a first fixed member (18) fixed to the first shaft, wherein: the first axis line intersects a second axis line defined in the second shaft; the first fixed member is located across the bearing (5) from the first gear in the direction along the first axis line; the first shaft and the first fixed member are capable of moving relative to the second shaft in the direction along the first axis line (fig. 2); and the elastic member (23) biases the first shaft.
5. The joint unit according to claim 4, further comprising: a second fixed member (either 16a/b or 20) fixed to the first shaft, wherein: the second fixed member is located across the bearing from the first fixed member in the direction along the first axis line (fig. 2); the elastic member (23) is disposed between the bearing (5) and the second fixed member; and the elastic member (23) causes the second fixed member (i.e., on the opposite side) to be biased in such a direction as to get farther away from the bearing (5).
11. The joint unit according to claim 5, wherein: the second shaft (2b) has a hole portion that houses part of the first shaft; and a distance across which the first gear and the bearing are capable of moving in the direction along the first axis line is limited within a range of a gap between an edge of the hole portion and the second fixed member (fig. 2).
The remaining limitations of the claims flow naturally from the explanations of the prior art above.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
Claims 13 and 17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over (JP S63-10087).
The prior art does not disclose a coiled spring. However, coiled springs were old and well-known, and were considered to be art-recognized equivalents. The selection of a desired spring-type, such as a coiled spring, appropriate for a given intended use only requires routine skill in the art, and therefore would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the time of effective filing.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 7-10, 16, 19-20 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.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to the claims have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 T. S. FIX whose telephone number is (571)272-8535. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th 10a-3p.
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 5712707778. 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.
/T. SCOTT FIX/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3618
1 See MPEP 1893.03(e)(II) which permits the examiner to adopt any portion or all of any report on patentability of the IPEA or ISA that would be relevant to U.S. practice, e.g., explanations of prior art, etc.
235 U.S.C.132(a): Whenever, on examination, any claim for a patent is rejected, or any objection or requirement made, the Director shall notify the applicant thereof, stating the reasons for such rejection, or objection or requirement, together with such information and references as may be useful in judging of the propriety of continuing the prosecution of his application; and if after receiving such notice, the applicant persists in his claim for a patent, with or without amendment, the application shall be re-examined. No amendment shall introduce new matter into the disclosure of the invention. [emphasis added]
3 37 CFR 1.104(c)(2): In rejecting claims for want of novelty or for obviousness, the examiner must cite the best references at his or her command. When a reference is complex or shows or describes inventions other than that claimed by the applicant, the particular part relied on must be designated as nearly as practicable. The pertinence of each reference, if not apparent, must be clearly explained and each rejected claim specified. [emphasis added]
Prosecution Insights