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 § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claim 3 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. With regards to claim 3, the limitation at line 2 recites “a shaft unit” however, a shaft unit has previously been recited in claim 1. It is unclear as to whether this is the same shaft unit or a separate shaft unit as has previously been claimed. If it is directed to the previously claimed shaft unit, it is unclear as to how the lower rotator constitutes the shaft unit per claim 3 when claim 1, line 5 recites “the shaft unit being attached to the lower and upper rotators”. If the lower rotator constitutes the shaft unit, per claim 3, it is questioned how is the lower rotator then attached to itself?
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 2 and 4-7 are allowed.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The prior art fails to teach or render obvious the invention as claimed. In particular, the prior art does not appear to teach or fairly disclose the lower rotator and upper rotator relatively rotate to be in contact with the first engagement portion from a radial direction of the axis with at least one of the first and second engagement portions having elasticity such that deformation is caused due to sliding contact with each other when rotated relative from the first position to the second position.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Please reference documents cited on attached Notice of References Cited.
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KIMBERLY BERONA
Supervisory Patent Examiner
Art Unit 3647
/KIMBERLY S BERONA/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3647
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