DETAILED ACTION
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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Species I in the reply filed on 10/28/2025 is acknowledged.
In the response, Applicant identified Species I is drawn to claims 1-9, 13-16, 18 and 20. Accordingly, claims 10-12, 17 and 19 are non-elected claims and therefore are withdrawn from consideration. Additionally, because claims 18 and 20 depend upon claim 17, claims 18 and 20 are also withdrawn from consideration. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 10/28/2025.
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.
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:
positioning section for positioning the sand prevention cover with respect to the hub in claim 1
fixing section for fixing the sand prevention cover to the hub 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 § 102
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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.
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) 1-9 and 13-16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Spaggiari (U.S. Pre-Grant Publication No. 2012/0201705).
As per claim 1, Spaggiari discloses a cooling fan (1), comprising: a sand prevention cover (13; figure 3) covering a hub (8) of the cooling fan; a connection structure comprising at least one positioning section, for positioning the sand prevention cover with respect to the hub , and at least one fixing section for fixing the sand prevention cover to the hub (see annotated figure 3 below), wherein the connection structure is formed as part of the sand prevention cover and as part of the hub (see annotated figure 3 below).
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As per claim 2, Spaggiari discloses the cooling fan of claim 1, and further discloses wherein the at least one positioning section and/or the at least one fixing section are formed at an outer ring segment and/or at an inner ring segment of the hub (positioning section at the outer ring of hub 8 and fixing section at the inner ring of hub 8 as shown; see annotated figure 3 above).
As per claim 3, Spaggiari discloses the cooling fan of claim 1, and further discloses wherein one positioning section of the at least one positioning section and/or one fixing section of the at least one fixing section are formed continuously along the inner or the outer ring segment (the positioning section has ring 13b, i.e., a continuous body engaging the outer ring of hub 8; paragraph [0062]; figures 3, 6).
As per claim 4, Spaggiari discloses the cooling fan of claim 2, and further discloses wherein the outer ring segment and the inner ring segment are each arranged on different radial positions of the hub (as shown; figure 3).
As per claim 5, Spaggiari discloses the cooling fan of claim 2, and further discloses wherein the sand prevention cover covers an area between the outer ring segment and the inner ring segment (as shown, cover 13 covers between the inner ring and the outer ring; see annotated figure 3 above).
As per claim 6, Spaggiari discloses the cooling fan of claim 1, and further discloses wherein the at least one fixing section and/or the at least one positioning section include at least one tongue and groove joint (as shown, ring 13b forms a tongue inserted to a groove formed by the outer ring of the cylindrical wall 12; see annotated figure 3 above).
As per claim 7, Spaggiari discloses the cooling fan of claim 6, and further discloses wherein the tongue and groove joint includes at least one tongue protruding in an axial direction of the cooling fan (as shown, the tongue extends in the axial direction; see annotated figure 3 above).
As per claim 8, Spaggiari discloses the cooling fan of claim 1, and further discloses wherein the at least one fixing section includes at least one weld seam (cover 13 is welded to hub 8, i.e., having a weld seam; paragraph [0077]).
As per claim 9, Spaggiari discloses the cooling fan of claim 1, and further discloses wherein the at least one fixing section includes at least one adhesive layer configured to fix the sand prevention cover to the hub by at least one adhesive bond (cover 13 is fastened and sealed to hub 8 by gluing cover 13 to hub 8; paragraph [0076]).
As per claim 13, Spaggiari discloses the cooling fan of claim 1, and further discloses wherein the at least one positioning section and the at least one fixing section are arranged on different axial positions with respect to an axial direction of the cooling fan (positioning section at the axial end of hub 8 and connection section located at base portion 18b having different axial positions; figure 3).
As per claim 14, Spaggiari discloses the cooling fan of claim 1, and further discloses wherein the sand prevention cover includes an inclined surface extending between the at least one positioning section and the at least one fixing section (cover 13, at discoidal portion 13a (located between the positioning section and the fixing section), forms a inclined surface with respect to the rotational axis R; figure 3).
As per claim 15, Spaggiari discloses the cooling fan of claim 1, and further discloses wherein the sand prevention cover includes a number of radial ribs (30) extending between the at least one positioning section and the at least one fixing section (as shown; figures 3, 5).
As per claim 16, Spaggiari discloses the cooling fan of claim 8, and further discloses wherein the at least one weld seam is formed by ultrasonic welding or hot melt welding (laser or ultrasound welding; paragraph [0077]).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Liu (U.S. Patent No. 7,034,417) teaches a cover for a fan hub fitted through hooks formed at the hub.
Watanabe (U.S. Patent No. 6,158,985) teaches a motor support that covers inner and outer rings of a fan hub.
Bleier (U.S. Patent No. 4,610,600) teaches a cover for a axial fan hub.
Azzouz (U.S. Patent No. 12,088,181) teaches a cap within a hub of a fan to redirect the flow within the hub.
Dai (U.S. Patent No. 12,313,080) is a non-prior art (filed after the effective filing date of the current application) that teaches a sand prevention cover between an outer ring and inner ring of the hub.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SANG K KIM whose telephone number is (571)272-1324. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm EST.
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/SANG K KIM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3745