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 .
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.
Claims 1, 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a)(1) as being anticipated by Zhou [CN 216618421U].
Regarding claim 1: Zhou shows a motor driving device for a hollow swivel actuator, the motor driving device comprising:
an actuator housing (1) having a hollow cylindrical part protruding upward at a center thereof; and
a motor driving unit disposed outside the hollow cylindrical part on one side of a bottom surface of the actuator housing,
wherein the motor driving unit comprises: the rotary shaft in which the worm gear (4) , in which a rotational output is generated, is integrally formed at a central portion between the first and second driving motors (5, 6) ; and first and second driving motors (5, 6) respectively formed at both ends of the rotary shaft to rotate the rotary shaft, and wherein the worm gear (4) is gear-coupled to a sun gear (3) rotatably supported on an outer circumference of the hollow cylindrical part.
Regarding claim 10: Zhou shows A motor driving device for a hollow swivel actuator, the motor driving device comprising:
an actuator housing (1) having a hollow cylindrical part protruding upward at a center thereof; and
a motor driving unit which includes first and second driving motors (5, 6) which are disposed on both sides of the bottom surface of the actuator housing to face the hollow cylindrical part, respectively, and formed at both ends of the rotary shaft, respectively, and a worm gear (4), which generates rotational outputs of the first and second driving motors (5, 6), and is integrally formed at the center of the rotary shaft, wherein the worm gear is gear-coupled to a sun gear ( 3, see fig 3) rotatably supported on an outer circumference of the hollow cylindrical part.
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.
Claims 2- 8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhou [CN 216618421U] in view of Caron [DE 102020107079].
Regarding claim 2: Zhou shows wherein the first and second driving motors comprise:
the rotary shaft in which the worm gear (4), in which a rotational output is generated, is integrally formed at a central portion between the first and second driving motors (5, 6);
first and second motor housings (see fig 1) for accommodating both ends of the rotary shaft, respectively.
first and second bearings (7, see fig 2) installed in the first and second motor housings to rotatably support the rotation shaft, respectively;
Zhou does not explicitly disclose first and second rotors having magnets attached to outer circumferential portions of both end portions of the rotary shaft, respectively; and
first and second stators arranged on the outer sides of the first and second rotors with air gaps and generating rotating magnetic fields to rotate the rotary shaft of the first and second rotors, respectively. However Caron shows motor with rotor (228) having magnets (234) to the outer circumferential portion and stator (226) arranged on the outer sides with air gaps and generating rotating magnetic field.
It would have been obvious to someone having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the effective filling date to have electric motors with stators and rotors with magnets to be able to rotate the motor using electric current and control the motor speed.
Regarding claim 3: Zhou shows comprising first and second set screws which are assembled by screwing into both ends of the first and second motor housings (s1, s2, see markup fig 1), respectively, and enable the front ends to press and support the ends of the rotating shaft to suppress the flow of the rotating shaft.
Regarding claim 4: Zhou shows wherein the first and second motor housings (h1, h2, see markup fig 1) are assembled such that both ends thereof partially span the first and second recesses formed in the circular wall of the actuator housing, and the first and second set screws are manipulated using a driver from the outside.
Regarding claim 5: Zhou shows wherein the rotary shaft is divided into three or two central portions ( R , 4) where the first and second rotors and the worm gear (4) are formed, and is assembled using a D-cut structure.
Regarding claim 6: Zhou shows wherein the first and second motor housings further comprise first and second brackets (B1, B2) protruding from the inside and the outside, respectively, and used to fix the first and second motor housings to the actuator housing.
Regarding claim 7: Zhou shows the first brackets (B1) protruding from the outer sides of the first and second motor housings are assembled and fixed to span third and fourth recesses formed in the circular wall of the actuator housing, respectively, and the second brackets (B2) protruding from the inner sides of the first and second motor housings (see fig 3)are respectively fixed to first and second protruding fixing parts protruding from the bottom surface of the actuator housing.
Regarding claim 8: Zhou shows wherein first and second through-holes in which the first and second motor housings (h1, h2) are assembled such that the bottom surfaces of the first and second motor housings are flush with the rear surface of the actuator housing (1) when the first and second motor housings are assembled to the bottom surface of the actuator housing (see fog 2).
Claim 9 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhou [CN 216618421U] in view of Caron [DE 102020107079] in further view of Jin [WO 2021/133083]
Regarding claim 9: Zhou does not explicitly show wherein each of the first and second stators comprises a stator core including a plurality of teeth and a back yoke having an asymmetric structure. Jin shows wherein each of the first and second stators comprises a stator core including a plurality of teeth (T, see fig 2) and a back yoke (121) having an asymmetric structure.
It would have been obvious to someone having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the effective filling date to design the stator to have asymmetric back yoke to reduce total torque ripple and cancel vibration, preventing local magnetic saturation.
Claim 11 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhou [CN 216618421U] in view of Yan [CN 112848980].
Regarding claim 11: Zhou shows A hollow swivel actuator comprising:
an actuator housing (1) having a hollow cylindrical part protruding upward at a center thereof;
a motor driving device which includes first and second driving motors (5, 6) which are disposed on both sides of the bottom surface of the actuator housing and outside of the hollow cylindrical part, respectively, and formed at both ends of a rotary shaft, respectively, and a worm gear (4), which generates rotational outputs of the first and second driving motors, and is integrally formed at the center of the rotary shaft;
a sun gear (3) rotatably supported on the outer circumference of the hollow cylindrical part and having a worm wheel integrally formed on the outer circumference thereof and gear-coupled to the worm gear to allow reduction; and
Zhou does not explicitly show a rotary table having the center part thereof rotatably supported on the outer circumference of the hollow cylindrical part, the bottom end of the center part being coupled to the top end of the sun gear. However Yan shows a rotary table (1, see fig 2) having the center part thereof rotatably supported on the outer circumference of the hollow cylindrical part, the bottom end of the center part being coupled to the top end of the sun gear (2).
It would have been obvious to someone having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the effective filling date have attached the rotary table to the sun gear to transfer the rotation and connect to other parts.
Claim 12 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhou [CN 216618421U] in view of Yan [CN 112848980] in further view of Zeng [CN 111194588]
Regarding claim 12: Zhou does not explicitly show a table support bearing rotatably supporting the rotary table on an outer circumference of a top end of the hollow cylindrical part; and
a bearing support press-coupled to the outer circumference of the hollow cylindrical part and arranged between the needle roller bearing and the table support bearing. However Yan shows a table support bearing (11) rotatably supporting the rotary table (1) on an outer circumference of a top end of the hollow cylindrical part; and
a bearing support (6) press-coupled to the outer circumference of the hollow cylindrical part and arranged between the needle roller bearing and the table support bearing. Zhou and Yan do not explicitly show a needle roller bearing arranged between the bottom end of the hollow cylindrical part and the sun gear to rotatably support the sun gear; However Zeng shows a needle roller bearing (5-2) arranged between the bottom end of the hollow cylindrical part and the sun gear to rotatably support the sun gear (see fig 10).
It would have been obvious to someone having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the effective filling date have provided the rotary table with needle bearing to reduce friction and bearing support to support rotary rotation of the table.
Regarding claim 13: Zhou shows wherein, when the rotary table is manufactured by a die casting method, the rotary table and the sun gear are integrally manufactured by inserting a pre-manufactured sun gear.
Regarding claim 14: The hollow swivel actuator of claim 11, Yan shows wherein the rotary table (1) and the sun gear are assembled into a bolt fastening or a keyway structure (see fig 2).
( see motivation of claim 11)
Claim 15 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhou [CN 216618421U] in view of Caron [DE 102020107079] in further view of Yan [CN 112848980].
Regarding claim 15: Zhou does not explicitly show a printed circuit board (PCB) installed inside the actuator housing to apply motor driving signals to the first and second driving motors according to manipulation of a car seat control button of a user, wherein the rotary table is used for rotation driving of a car seat. However Caron shows a printed circuit board (260) (PCB) installed inside the actuator housing to apply motor driving signals to the first and second driving motors according to manipulation of a car seat control button of a user, wherein the rotary table is used for rotation driving of a car seat.
It would have been obvious to someone having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the effective filling date have provided the motor with PCB circuit board to control the motor by sending controlling signal by the PCB board.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. KR 201786902 shows two motor and rotary table, sun gear and worm gear.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ZAKARIA ELAHMADI whose telephone number is (571)270-5324. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F 10-6 EST.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Minnah Seoh can be reached on 571-270-7778. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ZAKARIA ELAHMADI/
Examiner, Art Unit 3618
Prosecution Insights