DETAILED ACTION
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) 1-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Takahiro et al (JP 2018-105448).
Regarding claim 1, Takahiro discloses a vehicle drive device comprising:
a power transmission mechanism including a rotary shaft member (30) that enables transmission of power from a power source to a wheel;
a shaft bearing (35) that rotatably supports the rotary shaft member;
a case (32) that houses the power transmission mechanism in a housing chamber in which oil flows, the case including a shaft bearing support portion that fixedly supports the shaft bearing; and
an oil passage structure, at least a part of which is formed in the case,
wherein the shaft bearing support portion includes
a first wall portion (32a) formed about an axis and radially facing the shaft bearing, and
a second wall portion (32b) formed about the axis and axially facing an outer periphery of the shaft bearing from an axially first side,
the oil passage structure includes a first groove portion (32c) formed in the first wall portion in a manner recessed radially outward (shown in figure 3),
the first groove portion includes a first guide surface facing obliquely downward, and
the first guide surface extends axially and downward from an end of the first wall portion on an axially second side toward an end of the first wall portion on the axially first side.
Note: the applicant’s use of the phrases “downward” or “outward”, while not unclear are considered to be exceptionally broad as the directions are all relative and not clearly defined as a particular direction in relation to the claimed structure.
Regarding claim 2, Takahiro discloses the oil passage structure includes a second groove portion (36) that is formed in the second wall portion in a manner recessed toward the axially first side and is connected to an end of the first groove portion on the axially first side (shown in figures 3 and 4),
the second groove portion includes a second guide surface facing obliquely downward (shown in figures 3 and 4), and
the second guide surface extends radially and downward from an end of the second wall portion on a radially outer side toward an end of the second wall portion on a radially inner side (as shown in figures 3 and 4).
Regarding claim 3, Takahiro discloses the first guide surface is inclined relative to a vehicle left-right direction, and the second guide surface is inclined relative to a vehicle front-rear direction (as shown in figure 3).
Regarding claim 4, Takahiro discloses the oil passage structure includes a third groove portion (46) formed on an axial end surface of the first wall portion on the axially second side in a manner recessed to the axially first side, and an end of the third groove portion on a radially inner side is connected to an end of the first groove portion on the axially second side (shown in figure 3).
Regarding claim 5, Takahiro discloses a radial depth of the first groove portion is smaller than a radial thickness of the first wall portion (shown in figure 4).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Cited art generally discloses features related to the claimed invention including the structure of the bearing and oil passages.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Patrick Cicchino whose telephone number is (571)270-1954. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 8:30AM to 5PM.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Anita Coupe can be reached at (571)270-3614. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/Patrick Cicchino/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3619
Prosecution Insights