DETAILED ACTION
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see Remarks, filed 13 April 2026, with respect to the rejection(s) of claim(s) 1-8 under 35 USC 102 or 35 USC 103 have been fully considered and are partially persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of Liang et al (CN 214499480 U) and Chen et al (CN 213450910 U). Applicant argues that Liang fails to teach or suggest “a length of the second grille bar is shorter than a length of the plurality of first grille bars”, however, as included in the rejections below, Liang does disclose said limitation.
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 and 7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Liang et al – hereafter Liang – (CN 214499480 U).
Regarding claim 1, Liang teaches an air guide structure of an axial flow fan (Fig.6-8), comprising a first inner ring (213), a second inner ring (214), an outer ring (223), a plurality of first grille bars (222), and a second grille bar (212), wherein:
the first inner ring and the outer ring are both annular (Fig.6-8), the outer ring is arranged around a periphery of the first inner ring (Fig.6-8), and the plurality of first grille bars are evenly spaced in a circumferential direction of the first inner ring (Fig.6-8), and one end of each of the plurality of first grille bars is connected to the first inner ring and other end of each of the plurality of first grille bars is connected to the outer ring (Fig.6-8); and
each of the plurality of first grille bars is in a shape of a twisted sheet extending in a spiral (Fig.6-8);
the second inner ring is annular and is arranged along an inner circumference of the first inner ring (Fig.6-8); and
two ends of the second grille bar are respectively connected to the first inner ring (Fig.6-8), the second grille bar extends straight along a radial direction of the first inner ring (Fig.6-8), and a length of the second grille bar is shorter than a length of the plurality of first grille bars (machine translation, note ¶58 where second grille bar is disclosed to be 50mm to 80mm and ¶64 where the plurality of first grille bars are disclose to be 50mm to 80mm; therefore, when the second grille bar is 50mm and the plurality of first grille bars are greater than 50mm, the claim limitation is met).
Regarding claim 7, Liang further teaches each of the plurality of first grille bars comprises a windward surface (where 222 points to) in a thickness direction of the each of the plurality of first grille bars (Fig.8), and the windward surface of each of the plurality of first grille bars faces a radial plane of the outer ring (Annotated Fig.8);
a second angle (Annotated Fig.8, second angle is defined by 90°-α2) is formed between the windward surface of each of the plurality of first grille bars and the radial plane of the outer ring (Annotated Fig.8), and a value range of the second angle is greater than or equal to 50° and less than 90° (machine translation page 8 ¶6, note alpha 2 as defined between windward surface and rotating axis b is 10 degrees to 30 degrees; to determine the second angle as claimed we subtract 10 degrees to 30 degrees from 90 degrees, which gives us a value range of 60° to 80° for the second angle); and
a numerical value and a direction of the second angle at each position on the windward surface of each of the first grille bars are in continuous relationship (Annotated Fig.8).
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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) 2 and 8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Liang.
Regarding claim 2, Liang teaches all the limitations of claim 1, see above, however, does not explicitly teach a diameter of the first inner ring is 0.1-0.3 times a diameter of the outer ring.
In Gardner v. TEC Syst., Inc., 725 F.2d 1338, 220 USPQ 777 (Fed. Cir. 1984), cert, denied, 469 U.S. 830, 225 USPQ 232 (1984), the Federal Circuit held that, where the only difference between the prior art and the claims was a recitation of relative dimensions of the claimed device and a device having the claimed relative dimensions would not perform differently than the prior art device, the claimed device was not patentably distinct from the prior art device. In the current instance the only difference between claim 2 and the disclosed air guide structure of Liang is the relative dimensions of the first inner ring diameter and the outer ring diameter. Since Liang has disclosed an air guide structure with the claimed components and, if having said claimed relative dimensions between the first inner ring diameter and the outer ring diameter would not perform differently than the prior art device, the claims are not patentably distinct and said relative dimensions modification would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art.
Regarding claim 8, Liang teaches all the limitations of claim 7, see above, however, do not explicitly teach the second angle at each position on the windward surface of each first grille bar of the plurality of first grille bars continuously decreases along a direction from a connection position between the first grille bar and the outer ring to a connection position between the first grille bar and the first inner ring; and a difference between the second angle of the windward surface at the connection position between the first grille bar and the outer ring and the second angle of the windward surface at the connection position between the first grille bar and the first inner ring is less than or equal to 5°.
However, Liang recognizes the second angle as being a result effective variable that could be optimized to help avoid bad wind expanding and wind increased resistance effects (Liang machine learning page 8 ¶6).
Therefore, It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to modify the air guide structure of Chen and Liang by having the second angle at each position on the windward surface of each first grille bar of the plurality of first grille bars continuously decreases along a direction from a connection position between the first grille bar and the outer ring to a connection position between the first grille bar and the first inner ring; and a difference between the second angle of the windward surface at the connection position between the first grille bar and the outer ring and the second angle of the windward surface at the connection position between the first grille bar and the first inner ring is less than or equal to 5° via routine optimization based on the teachings of Liang.
Claim(s) 3-5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Liang as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Chen et al – hereafter Chen – (CN 213450910 U).
Regarding claim 3, Liang teaches all the limitations of claim 1, see above, however, does not explicitly teach a radial plane of the first inner ring and a radial plane of the outer ring are not in the same plane and are parallel to each other.
Chen teaches an air guide structure of an axial flow fan (Fig.3/5/6), comprising a first inner ring (3212), an outer ring (3211) and a plurality of first grille bars (3213), wherein: the first inner ring and the outer ring are both annular (Fig.5/6), the outer ring is arranged around a periphery of the first inner ring (Fig.5/6), and the plurality of first grille bars are evenly spaced in a circumferential direction of the first inner ring (Fig.5), and one end of each of the plurality of first grille bars is connected to the first inner ring and other end of each of the plurality of first grille bars is connected to the outer ring (Fig.5); and each of the plurality of first grille bars is in a shape of a twisted sheet extending in a spiral (Fig.5). Chen further teaches a radial plane of the first inner ring and a radial plane of the outer ring are not in the same plane and are parallel to each other (Fig.6, A); note that said configuration allows improving the air output effect of the fan (machine translation ¶34).
It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to further modify the air guide structure of Liang by having a radial plane of the first inner ring and a radial plane of the outer ring are not in the same plane and are parallel to each other based on the teachings of Chen because this would allow improving the air output effect of the fan.
Regarding claim 4, Liang teaches all the limitations of claim 1, see above, however, does not explicitly teach a vertical distance (A) between the radial plane of the first inner ring and the radial plane of the outer ring is less than or equal to 5-10% of a diameter of the outer ring.
Chen teaches an air guide structure of an axial flow fan (Fig.3/5/6), comprising a first inner ring (3212), an outer ring (3211) and a plurality of first grille bars (3213), wherein: the first inner ring and the outer ring are both annular (Fig.5/6), the outer ring is arranged around a periphery of the first inner ring (Fig.5/6), and the plurality of first grille bars are evenly spaced in a circumferential direction of the first inner ring (Fig.5), and one end of each of the plurality of first grille bars is connected to the first inner ring and other end of each of the plurality of first grille bars is connected to the outer ring (Fig.5); and each of the plurality of first grille bars is in a shape of a twisted sheet extending in a spiral (Fig.5). Chen further teaches a vertical distance (A) between the radial plane of the first inner ring and the radial plane of the outer ring is less than or equal to 5-10% of a diameter of the outer ring (machine translation ¶34); note that said configuration allows improving the air output effect of the fan (machine translation ¶34).
It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to further modify the air guide structure of Liang by having a vertical distance (A) between the radial plane of the first inner ring and the radial plane of the outer ring is less than or equal to 5-10% of a diameter of the outer ring based on the teachings of Chen because this would allow improving the air output effect of the fan.
Regarding claim 5, Liang teaches all the limitations of claim 1, see above, and further teaches each first grille bar of the plurality of first grille bars comprises a first end (Fig.6-7) and a second end (Fig.6-7), the first end of the first grille bar is connected to the first inner ring (Fig.6-7), and the second end of the first grille bar is connected to the outer ring (Fig.6-7), an orthographic projection of a line connecting a center point of the first end of the first grille bar and a center of the first inner ring on a radial plane of the outer ring is a first connection line (Fig.7); an orthographic projection of a line connecting a center point of the second end of the first grille bar and the center of the first inner ring on the radial plane of the outer ring is a second connection line (Fig.7), however, does not explicitly teach the first connection line and the second connection line intersect to form a first angle, and a value range of the first angle is less than or equal to 75° and greater than 50°.
Chen teaches an air guide structure of an axial flow fan (Fig.3/5/6), comprising a first inner ring (3212), an outer ring (3211) and a plurality of first grille bars (3213), wherein: the first inner ring and the outer ring are both annular (Fig.5/6), the outer ring is arranged around a periphery of the first inner ring (Fig.5/6), and the plurality of first grille bars are evenly spaced in a circumferential direction of the first inner ring (Fig.5), and one end of each of the plurality of first grille bars is connected to the first inner ring and other end of each of the plurality of first grille bars is connected to the outer ring (Fig.5); and each of the plurality of first grille bars is in a shape of a twisted sheet extending in a spiral (Fig.5). Chen further teaches an orthographic projection of a line connecting a center point of the first end of the first grille bar and a center of the first inner ring on a radial plane of the outer ring is a first connection line (M); an orthographic projection of a line connecting a center point of the second end of the first grille bar and the center of the first inner ring on the radial plane of the outer ring is a second connection line (S); the first connection line and the second connection line intersect to form a first angle (α), and a value range of the first angle is less than or equal to 75° and greater than 50° (machine translation ¶36); said configuration results in good noise reduction (machine translation ¶36).
It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to further modify the air guide structure of Liang by having the first connection line and the second connection line intersect to form a first angle, and a value range of the first angle is less than or equal to 75° and greater than 50° based on the teachings of Chen because this results in good noise reduction.
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 JUAN G FLORES whose telephone number is (571)272-3486. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 5:30pm Pacific Time.
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/JUAN G FLORES/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3745
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