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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS) have been considered by the Examiner.
The lined through reference is not considered to be relevant to the claimed invention.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to because the following reference characters should include an arrowhead at the end of their leader lines, since they denote an overall element of the invention: 116, 146, 120, 122, 166, 162, 212, 189, 200, 264, 318, and 322.
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.
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they include the following reference character(s) not mentioned in the description: 218A.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d), or amendment to the specification to add the reference character(s) in the description in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(b) 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. 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.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: In paragraph [0022], the US application numbers should be replaced with the corresponding US Publication numbers thereof. This is due to the fact that a US application is not a published document readily available to the general public.
Appropriate correction is required.
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 1-24 and 29 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.
Claims 1-2 and 4 are indefinite due to the fact that it is unclear what is actually being claimed by the phrase “configured to open”. This phrase is generally narrative (see section 8 below) and fails to describe any actual physical structure of the invention.
Claims 3 and 12 are indefinite due to the fact that it is unclear what is actually being claimed by the phrase “configured to close”. This phrase is generally narrative (see section 8 below) and fails to describe any actual physical structure of the invention.
Claims 7 and 29 are indefinite due to the fact that it is unclear what is actually being claimed by the via “via”. This term is generally narrative (see section 8 below) and fails to describe any actual physical structure of the invention.
Claim 8 is indefinite due to the fact that it is unclear what is actually being claimed by the phrase “configured to be releasably connected”. This phrase is generally narrative (see section 8 below) and fails to describe any actual physical structure of the invention.
Claims 13-14 are indefinite due to the fact that it is unclear what is actually being claimed by the phrase “configured to shift”. This phrase is generally narrative (see section 8 below) and fails to describe any actual physical structure of the invention.
Claim 19 is indefinite due to the fact that it is unclear what is actually being claimed by the phrase “configured to space”. This phrase is generally narrative (see section 8 below) and fails to describe any actual physical structure of the invention.
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) 1-3, 5-7, 9-10, 12-19, 21, and 24-29 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Huang et al (CN 218112240).
Per claims 1, 13, and 25, Huang et al shows a wheel hub assembly having a hub body 6 with an interior. Bearings 5 rotatably connect the hub body 6 to a spindle 15. A vent 17 is associated with the hub body 6, which opens to the interior thereof. An inertia-controlled valve of the vent 17 opens in response to rotation of the valve with the hub body 6 to permit air to follow out of the interior of the hub body 6.
Per claims 2, 14, and 26, the valve opens in response to the hub body 6 rotating at or above a predetermined speed.
Per claims 3, 15, and 27, the valve closes in response to the hub body 6 rotating at a speed below the predetermined speed.
Per claims 5 and 16, the valve includes a sealing element 1705 and a valve seat. The sealing element 1705 shifts away from the seat in response to rotation of the hub body 6.
Per claims 6, 17, and 28, a spring 1706 biases the sealing element 1705 into engagement with the seat. The sealing element 1705 deflects the spring 1706 in response to rotation of the hub body 6.
Per claims 7 and 29, the hub body 6 includes a side wall with an interior surface that defines at least part of the interior, and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface. A through opening may extend from the interior surface to the exterior surface, with the vent 17 being mounted in the through opening.
Per claims 9, 13, and 19, the vent 17 includes an air inlet (at 1702) spaced from the interior surface of the hub body 6 by a spacer portion to inhibit lubricant from flowing out of the hub body 6 when the valve opens.
Per claims 10 and 21, the vent 17 includes a one-way valve (i.e. sealing element 1705) that inhibits ingress of moisture into the interior of the hub body 6.
Per claim 12, the valve closes when the valve 1705 is stationary.
Per claim 18, the sealing element 1705 is a ball bearing.
Per claim 24, the plug portion, air inlet 1702 and spacer portion of the vent 17 is a unitary, one-piece construction.
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.
Claim(s) 4, 11, 20, and 22 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Huang et al.
Regarding claim 4, Huang et al does not disclose the speed at which the valve opens. However, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention, and with a reasonable expectation of success, to design the valve of the vent 17 to open at any speed corresponding to the moment at which the interior of the wheel hub body would most benefit from having both pressure and heat removed therefrom, for the purpose of preventing damage to the bearings.
Regarding claims 11 and 22, Huang et al does not disclose the use of a filter within the vent 17. However, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention, and with a reasonable expectation of success, to provide the vent of Huang et al with a filter, for the purpose of preventing debris from entering the interior of the wheel hub, thus preventing contamination of the lubricant therein, and preventing damage to the bearings.
Regarding claim 20, Huang et al does not explicitly disclose the plug portion of the vent 17 including threads to engage with threads in the wall of the hub body 6. However, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention, and with a reasonable expectation of success, to provide the side wall of Huang et al with a threaded hole that engage threads on the plug portion of the vent, as a well-known and established manner of securing the vent to the wheel hub, thus preventing loss of the vent during rotation of the wheel hub.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 8 and 23 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The references show wheel hubs having vents.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JASON R BELLINGER whose telephone number is (571)272-6680. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-4.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Samuel (Joe) Morano can be reached at (571)272-6684. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JASON R BELLINGER/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3615
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