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 .
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
Claim Interpretation
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The claims in this application are given their broadest reasonable interpretation using the plain meaning of the claim language in light of the specification as it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim element (also commonly referred to as a claim limitation) is limited by the description in the specification when 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is invoked.
As explained in MPEP § 2181, subsection I, claim limitations that meet the following three-prong test will be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
(A) the claim limitation uses the term “means” or “step” or a term used as a substitute for “means” that is a generic placeholder (also called a nonce term or a non-structural term having no specific structural meaning) for performing the claimed function;
(B) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is modified by functional language, typically, but not always linked by the transition word “for” (e.g., “means for”) or another linking word or phrase, such as “configured to” or “so that”; and
(C) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is not modified by sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function.
Use of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim with functional language creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites sufficient structure, material, or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Absence of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is not to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is not interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites function without reciting sufficient structure, material or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Claim limitations in this application that use the word “means” (or “step”) are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action. Conversely, claim limitations in this application that do not use the word “means” (or “step”) are not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action.
This application includes one or more claim limitations that do not use the word “means,” but are nonetheless being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because the claim limitation(s) uses a generic placeholder that is coupled with functional language without reciting sufficient structure to perform the recited function and the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier. Such claim limitation(s) is/are:
“driven member” in claim 1;
“second member” in claim 1;
“first engaging portion” in claim 1;
“first engaged portion” in claim 1;
“second engaging portion” in claim 1;
“second engaged portion” in claim 1.
Because this/these claim limitation(s) is/are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, it/they is/are being interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification as performing the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
If applicant does not intend to have this/these limitation(s) interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, applicant may: (1) amend the claim limitation(s) to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph (e.g., by reciting sufficient structure to perform the claimed function); or (2) present a sufficient showing that the claim limitation(s) recite(s) sufficient structure to perform the claimed function so as to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.
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 4 and 5 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 4 and 5 recite: “teeth are also provided in a fourth range that continues, in the axial direction, from the third range”. It is distinctly unclear what is meant by this phrasing. Not enough structural or relational detain is provided to determine what is meant regarding the position of the fourth range. It is also unclear if the use of “teeth” is intended to improperly refer back to “the gear teeth” of claim 1 or introduce a separate set of teeth.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-3 and 6-15 appear to be allowable.
Claims 4 and 5 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Prior art does not disclose or suggest the claimed “image forming apparatus, comprising: a shaft member; a first gear configured to receive a driving force from a driving source… supported by the shaft … a second gear configured to mesh with the first … a driven member that is driven by the driving force transmitted to the second gear, wherein the first gear includes: a first member … with gear teeth… a second member, which is provided inside the first … and which is rotatably supported by the shaft member, and provided with (i) a contact portion that comes into contact with an inner circumferential surface of the first member, (ii) an inner circumferential surface slidably coming into contact with an outer circumferential surface of the shaft member; a first restricting structure including a first engaging portion and a first engaged portion … restricting a relative movement, in the axial direction, of the second member relative to the first member; and a second restricting structure including a second engaging portion and a second engaged portion … restricting a relative movement, in a circumferential direction of the shaft member, of the second member relative to the first member, and wherein, in the first gear, a first range and a second range at least partially overlap with each other with respect to the axial direction, where the first range is a range, in the axial direction, of a portion that is provided with the first restricting structure, and the second range is a range, in the axial direction, of a portion that is provided with the second restricting structure” in combination with the remaining claim elements as set forth in claims 1-15.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Ukai (US Pub.2008/0044203) discloses a rotary drive transmitting member, for an image forming apparatus, mountable on a shaft, configured as a first member and a second member provided within the first, with features to define an axial position and a circumferential positional relationship between the two; however, the claimed overlap of the ranges is not taught.
Reisch (US 3,264,016) discloses a rotary member mountable on a shaft with features to define an axial position and a circumferential positional relationship.
Ota (US Pub.2012/0328336) discloses a rotary member, for an image forming apparatus, mountable on a shaft with features to define an axial position and a circumferential positional relationship.
Fukano et al. (US 5,070,373) discloses a rotary drive transmitting member, for an image forming apparatus, mountable on a shaft, configured as a first member and a second member provided within the first, with features to define a circumferential positional relationship between the two; however, the axial limiting engagement mechanism is not taught.
Nagasue et al. (US 5,768,656) discloses a rotary drive transmitting member, for an image forming apparatus, mountable on a shaft, configured as a first member and a second member provided within the first, circumferential positional relationship is determined by a frictional engagement between the two, however, no axial positioning engagement system is defined.
Mullins (US 4,778,303) discloses a means for mounting a gear on a shaft comprising a member to contact the inside of the gear member, wherein the circumferential positional engagement portion is grooves and projections to extend into the grooves, but no axial engagement portion that satisfies the claim language is presented.
Kumar et al. (US 5,845,175) disclose a rotary drive transmitting member, for an image forming apparatus, mountable on a shaft, with features to define an axial position and a circumferential positional relationship between the two; however, the system does not comprise a first and second member and the claimed overlap ranges are not satisfied.
Zaman (US 6,490,426) discloses a rotary drive transmitting member, for an image forming apparatus, mountable on a shaft, with features to define an axial position and a circumferential positional relationship between the two; however, the system does not comprise a first and second member and the claimed overlap ranges are not satisfied.
Chadani et al. (US 6,208,817) disclose a gear member, for an image forming apparatus, mountable on a shaft, comprising a first member with teeth and a second member contacting the inner circumferential surface thereof, with features to define an axial position and a circumferential positional relationship between the two and the ranges appear to overlap; however, the gear does not transmit drive force to another gear.
Sawamura et al. (US Pub.2007/0019977) disclose a method of attaching a rotary member to a shaft with a second member inside a first member and two restricting structures configured to respectively control a position in a circumferential direction and an axial direction and the ranges appear to overlap; however, this attachment configuration is designed for a cam and sensor flag and does not appear to be an obvious means of positioning a gear that transmits a driving force as a different simpler configuration is used therefor.
Xiao et al. (US Pub.2015/0093150) disclose a rotary drive transmitting member, for an image forming apparatus, configured as a first member and a second member provided within the first, with features to define an axial position and a circumferential positional relationship between the two and the claimed overlap appears to be met; however, this system is used in lieu of a shaft and it does not appear that this configuration would be usable with a shaft.
Boettcher et al. (US Pub.2021/0018864) disclose a rotary drive transmitting member, for an image forming apparatus, configured as a first member and a second member provided within the first, with features to define an axial position between the two and a circumferential positional relationship between the second and a bearing frame; however, this system is not a driving gear and the claimed overlap does not appear to be met.
Murakami et al. (US Pub.2023/0032591) appears to be a related publication, but distinct details of the gear positioning are not disclosed.
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LAURA K ROTH whose telephone number is (571)272-2154. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 7:30AM-3:30 PM.
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/LKR/
4/1/2026
/STEPHANIE E BLOSS/ Supervisory Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2852