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 .
Status of Claims
This office action is in response to the amendments/remarks filed on 07/21/2026. Claims 1, 3-5 are pending; claim 1 has been amended; claim 2 is canceled.
Claim Interpretation
The terms "connect" or couple" is defined as rotational elements being linked so they rotate together or transmit torque between them either directly or indirectly via another member(See ¶[0018]-[0019])
The term "fixed" is defined as rotational element being constrained from rotation relative to a housing either directly or indirectly via another member (see ¶[0020])
The phrase “integrated component” is interpreted under BRI because the phrase does not have any definition from the specification, a component in which two more portions are combined or incorporated into a common unit.
The terms of “one side of the engagement element” and “the other side of the engagement element” mean two elements included in the engagement element that become relatively non-rotatable when the engagement element is in an engaged state and become relatively rotatable when the engagement element is in a released state. The terms of “one side of the engagement element” and “the other side of the engagement element” may be a combination of rotational elements or a combination of a rotational element and a non-rotational element, and are generally referred to as a clutch for the former and a brake for the latter (See ¶[0027]).
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 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Usoro (US 2006/0178243 A1)
Claim 1: A unit (Fig.3a-3b) comprising:
an input element (17);
an output element (19); and
a gear device comprising a first planetary gear mechanism (240) and a second planetary gear mechanism (230),
the first planetary gear mechanism (240) including a first rotational element (242), a second rotational element (246), and a third rotational element (244),
the second planetary gear mechanism including a fourth rotational element (236), a fifth rotational element (234) , and a sixth rotational element (232),
wherein a first rotational part (shaft of 242) comprises the first rotational element (242),
a second rotational part (shaft between 246 and 232) comprises the second rotational element (246) and the sixth rotational element (232), the second rotational element (246) directly coupled with the sixth rotational element (232),
a third rotational part (shaft of 244) comprises the third rotational element (244),
a fourth rotational part (shaft from 236) comprises the fourth rotational element (236),
a fifth rotational part (shaft of 234) comprises the fifth rotational element (234),
the input element (17) is connected to (via 256) the first rotational part (shaft of 242),
the output element (19) is connected to (via 220) the fifth rotational part (shaft of 234),
the third rotational part (shaft of 244) is fixed (via 257 when 257 is engaged 236 is held non-rotatable this satisfies the definition of “fixed” from application’s specification ¶[0020], see claim interpretation section above. Furthermore, the claim does not require direct fixation to the housing or permanently fixed to the housing.),
the fourth rotational part (shaft from 236) is selectively connectable (via 257) to a fixed element (257) or the first rotational part (shaft of 242 via 250, 17, 252), and
the fifth rotational part (shaft of 234) is connectable (via 252, 17, 256) to the first rotational part (shaft of 242).
Claim 3: The unit according to claim 1, further comprising:
a first engagement element (256);
a second engagement element (250); and
a third engagement element (257),
wherein one side of the first engagement element (256) is connected to the first rotational part (shaft 242), the other side of the first engagement element (256) is connected (via 17, 252) to the fifth rotational part (shaft of 234),
one side of the second engagement element (250) is connected (via 17, 256) to the first rotational part (shaft of 242),the other side of the second engagement element (250) is connected to the fourth rotational part (shaft of 236),
one side of the third engagement element (257) is connected to the fourth rotational part (shaft of 236), and the other side of the third engagement element (257) is fixed to the fixed element (260)
Claim 4: The unit according to claim 3, wherein the one side of the first engagement element (256) and the one side of the second engagement element (250) are implemented as an integrated component (e.g. the phrase “integrated component” is interpreted under BRI see claim interpretation section above. In this case, one side of 256 and one side of 250 are combined into a common unit --common input side structure associated with input shaft 17)
Claim 5: The unit according to claim 3, wherein the other side of the second engagement element (250) and the one side of the third engagement element (257) are implemented as an integrated component (e.g. the phrase “integrated component” is interpreted under BRI see claim interpretation section above. In this case, other side of 250 and one side of 257 are combined into common connection unit between 17 and 236)
Claim(s) 1 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Raghavan (US 20070270262 A1)
Raghavan discloses:
Claim 1: A unit (Fig.6a-6b) comprising:
an input element (580);
an output element (16); and
a gear device (520, 530, 540) comprising a first planetary gear mechanism (520) and a second planetary gear mechanism (530,540. Since 530 and 540 as a compound planetary gearset. Note: there is error in the drawing, reference number “540” and “542” to the right should read “530” and “532”),
the first planetary gear mechanism (520) including a first rotational element (522), a second rotational element (526), and a third rotational element (524),
the second planetary gear mechanism (530,540) including a fourth rotational element (542), a fifth rotational element (532), and a sixth rotational element (536),
wherein a first rotational part (shaft of 522) comprises the first rotational element (522),
a second rotational part (shaft between 526 and 536) comprises the second rotational element (526) and the sixth rotational element (536), the second rotational element (526) directly coupled with the sixth rotational element (536),
a third rotational part (574) comprises the third rotational element (524),
a fourth rotational part (shaft of 542) comprises the fourth rotational element (542),
a fifth rotational part (shaft of 532. Note: there is error in the drawing, reference number “540” and “542” to the right should read “530” and “532”) comprises the fifth rotational element (532),
the input element (580) is connected to the first rotational part (shaft of 522),
the output element (16) is connected to (via 19, 544, 546/547, 537) the fifth rotational part (shaft of 532),
the third rotational part (574) is fixed,
the fourth rotational part (shaft of 542) is selectively connectable (via 554) to a fixed element (560)
the fifth rotational part (shaft of 532) is connectable to (via 552) the first rotational part (shaft of 522).
Response to Amendment/Argument
The previous objection to the title has been withdrawn in light of the amendment to the title.
The previous claim rejections under 35 USC§ 112 (a) and (b) have been withdrawn in light of the amendment to claim 1.
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-5 under 35 USC§ 103 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
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 Lillian T Nguyen whose telephone number is (571)270-5404. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ernesto Suarez can be reached at (571)270-5565. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/LILLIAN T NGUYEN/Examiner, Art Unit 3655A
/ERNESTO A SUAREZ/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3655
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