DETAILED ACTION
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(d):
(d) REFERENCE IN DEPENDENT FORMS.—Subject to subsection (e), a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, fourth paragraph:
Subject to the following paragraph [i.e., the fifth paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112], a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
Claim 13 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph, as being of improper dependent form for failing to further limit the subject matter of the claim upon which it depends, or for failing to include all the limitations of the claim upon which it depends. Claim 13 recites “wherein the wave generator is provided with one or more circumferential grooves defined by radially extending walls, within which the or each set of bearing components forming a row around the circumference of the wave generator is accommodated”. However, newly amended claim 7 from which claim 13 depends now recites “wherein the wave generator is formed with a plurality of circumferential grooves separated by walls, the circumferential grooves and walls being an integral part of the wave generator, each circumferential groove accommodating a respective one of said rows of the plurality of adjacent rows of bearing components”. As such, it is unclear as to how claim 13 further limits claim 7. Applicant may cancel the claim(s), amend the claim(s) to place the claim(s) in proper dependent form, rewrite the claim(s) in independent form, or present a sufficient showing that the dependent claim(s) complies with the statutory requirements.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-9, 11, 12, 14, and 15 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: the prior art neither discloses nor renders obvious the claimed combination including “wherein the wave generator is formed with a plurality of circumferential grooves separated by walls, the circumferential grooves and walls being an integral part of the wave generator, each circumferential groove accommodating a respective one of said rows of the plurality of adjacent rows of bearing components, the bearing components of each row rolling directly on a raceway formed by the respective circumferential groove, and wherein, in each row of the plurality of adjacent rows, the bearing components are arranged adjacent each other around the peripheral extent of the wave generator so as to fill the entire circumferential extent of the wave generator.”
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US 2013/0276575 discloses a similar device but does not disclose idler rollers between standard rollers.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TERENCE BOES whose telephone number is (571)272-4898. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 10-6:30.
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TERENCE BOES
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3618
/TERENCE BOES/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3618
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