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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the more than two clamped blocks from claim 4 and the limiting block from claim 10 must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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 5-14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Takahashi (JP5969784).
Regarding claim 1, Takahashi teaches a transmission structure for synchronous rotation of louver blades, comprising a mounting bar (23) inserted in a window sash vertical column (1), wherein the mounting bar (23) has a front side opening, the mounting bar (23) comprises a left side plate (23c), a right side plate (a second instance of 23c, see fig 4), and a rear side plate (23b), a left rack (24a) is slidably arranged on a right side of the left side plate (23c, see fig 4), a right rack (a second instance of 24a, see fig 4) is slidably arranged on a left side of the right side plate (23c, see fig 4), a plurality of gears (31) arranged at intervals in a vertical direction (as seen in fig 1) are meshed between the left rack and the right rack (see figs 3 and 4), a plurality of through holes (35) corresponding to the gears (31) in number and position (as seen in fig 3) are formed in the rear side plate (23b) in the vertical direction (see fig 3), a rear end of a rotating shaft (34) for driving the blade (4) to rotate passes through the window sash vertical column (1, see fig 9) and is detachably connected to the gear (31), and the rotating shaft (34) is rotated by the gear (31); and mounting columns (31a) are arranged at rear ends of the gears (31), and the gears (31) are fixed to the rear side plate (23b) by passing the mounting columns (31a) through the through holes (35) to be detachably connected to fixing blocks (21f).
Regarding claim 5, Takahashi teaches the transmission structure for synchronous rotation of louver blades of claim 1. Takahashi further teaches wherein a polygonal hole (right end of 34 as seen in fig 5) is arranged on a side of the gear (31) away from the mounting column (31a), a polygonal insertion shaft (left side 33, see fig 5) adapted to the polygonal hole is arranged at the rear end of the rotating shaft (34), and the gear (31) drives the rotating shaft (34) to rotate by inserting the polygonal insertion shaft into the polygonal hole (as seen in fig 5, pinion gear 33 inserts into rotating shaft 34).
Regarding claim 6, Takahashi teaches the transmission structure for synchronous rotation of louver blades of claim 1. Takahashi further teaches wherein a diameter of the rotating shaft (inner diameter of 34) is smaller than a tip circle diameter of the gear (31).
Regarding claim 7, Takahashi teaches the transmission structure for synchronous rotation of louver blades of claim 1. Takahashi further teaches wherein left sliders (on either side of 24a as seen in fig 10) are respectively arranged on front and rear sides of the left rack (24a), a left guide groove (as defined in annotated fig 5) for the left slider (as defined above) to slide in is arranged on the right side of the left side plate (23c), right sliders (on either side of 24a as seen in fig 10) are respectively arranged on front and rear sides of the right rack (24a), and a right guide groove (as defined in annotated fig 5) for the right slider (as defined above) to slide in is arranged on the left side of the right side plate (23c).
PNG
media_image1.png
430
492
media_image1.png
Greyscale
Regarding claim 8, Takahashi teaches the transmission structure for synchronous rotation of louver blades of claim 1. Takahashi further teaches wherein a left slide groove is arranged on a left side of the left side plate (as seen in annotated fig 5), a right slide groove is arranged on a right side of the right side plate (as seen in annotated fig 5), and a left guide rail adapted to the left slide groove (as seen in annotated fig 5) and a right guide rail adapted to the right slide groove (as seen in annotated fig 5) are arranged in the window sash vertical column (1).
Regarding claim 9, Takahashi teaches the transmission structure for synchronous rotation of louver blades of claim 1. Takahashi further teaches wherein two pins (36) are arranged at a front end of the rotating shaft (34), two pin holes (32) for insertion of the pins (36) are arranged in an end portion of the blade (4), and the rotating shaft (34) drives the blade (4) to rotate by inserting the pins (36) into the pin holes (32, see fig 9).
Regarding claim 10, Takahashi teaches a transmission structure for synchronous rotation of louver blades, comprising a mounting bar (23) inserted in a window sash vertical column (1), wherein the mounting bar (23) has a front side opening, the mounting bar (23) comprises a left side plate (23c), a right side plate (a second instance of 23c, see fig 4), and a rear side plate (23b), a left rack (24a) is slidably arranged on a right side of the left side plate (23c, see fig 4), a right rack (a second instance of 24a, see fig 4) is slidably arranged on a left side of the right side plate (23c, see fig 4), a plurality of gears (31) arranged at intervals in a vertical direction (as seen in fig 1) are meshed between the left rack and the right rack (see figs 3 and 4), a plurality of through holes (35) corresponding to the gears (31) in number and position (as seen in fig 3) are formed in the rear side plate (23b) in the vertical direction (see fig 3), a rear end of a rotating shaft (34) for driving the blade (4) to rotate passes through the window sash vertical column (1, see fig 9) and is detachably connected to the gear (31), and the rotating shaft (34) is rotated by the gear (31); and a limiting block (21) is arranged on a rear side of the rear side plate (23b), a connecting column (31a) is arranged at a front end of the limiting block (21), and the gear (31) is fixed to the rear side plate (23b) by passing the connecting column (31a) through the through hole (35) to be detachably connected to the gear (31).
Regarding claim 11, Takahashi teaches the transmission structure for synchronous rotation of louver blades of claim 10. Takahashi further teaches wherein a diameter of the rotating shaft (inner diameter of 34) is smaller than a tip circle diameter of the gear (31).
Regarding claim 12, Takahashi teaches the transmission structure for synchronous rotation of louver blades of claim 10. Takahashi further teaches wherein left sliders (on either side of 24a as seen in fig 10) are respectively arranged on front and rear sides of the left rack (24a), a left guide groove (as defined in annotated fig 5) for the left slider (as defined above) to slide in is arranged on the right side of the left side plate (23c), right sliders (on either side of 24a as seen in fig 10) are respectively arranged on front and rear sides of the right rack (24a), and a right guide groove (as defined in annotated fig 5) for the right slider (as defined above) to slide in is arranged on the left side of the right side plate (23c).
Regarding claim 13, Takahashi teaches the transmission structure for synchronous rotation of louver blades of claim 10. Takahashi further teaches wherein a left slide groove is arranged on a left side of the left side plate (as seen in annotated fig 5), a right slide groove is arranged on a right side of the right side plate (as seen in annotated fig 5), and a left guide rail adapted to the left slide groove (as seen in annotated fig 5) and a right guide rail adapted to the right slide groove (as seen in annotated fig 5) are arranged in the window sash vertical column (1).
Regarding claim 14, Takahashi teaches the transmission structure for synchronous rotation of louver blades of claim 10. Takahashi further teaches wherein two pins (36) are arranged at a front end of the rotating shaft (34), two pin holes (32) for insertion of the pins (36) are arranged in an end portion of the blade (4), and the rotating shaft (34) drives the blade (4) to rotate by inserting the pins (36) into the pin holes (32, see fig 9).
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claim(s) 2-4 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Takahashi (JP5969784) in view of Schneider (U.S. 9,662,963).
further teaches wherein the fixing block (21f) sleeves the mounting column (31a), an inner ring of the fixing block (21f) is provided with a clamped block (see fig 4), and the mounting column (31a) is detachably connected to the fixing block (21f). Takahashi is silent as to the mounting column being provided with an annular groove.
Schneider teaches a similar mounting column arrangement where the mounting column comprises an annular groove (below spring clip 34, see fig 3). The mounting column is detachably connected to the fixing block by clamping the clamped block into the annular groove (as seen in fig 3).
Takahashi and Schneider are considered to be analogous to the claimed invention because they are in the same field of louver blade transmission structures. Therefore, it would have been obvious to someone of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Takahashi to incorporate the teachings of Schneider and provide an annular groove on the mounting column. Doing so would provide a structure to secure the mounting column into place with the fixing block to ensure the two components stay connected within the assembly.
Regarding claim 3, the combination of Takahashi and Schneider teaches the transmission structure for synchronous rotation of louver blades of claim 2. Takahashi and Schneider discloses the claimed invention except for wherein an inner side surface of the clamped block comprises a circular table surface at a front end and a cylindrical surface on a rear side of the circular table surface, a diameter of the circular table surface decreases from front to rear, and a front end surface and a rear end surface of the clamped block are planes. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to provide a circular table surface and cylindrical surface on the rear side of the circular table surface, where a diameter of the circular table surface decreases from front to rear (as seen by the flared connection of 34 in fig 5), since it has been held that rearranging parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art. Currently, the references of Takahashi and Schneider depict a diameter of a circular table surface that decreases from front to rear on the mounting column itself (see fig 5). However, this arrangement could be reversed to be on the clamped block instead and would produce a predictable result. See MPEP 2144.04 (VI) (C).
Regarding claim 4, the combination of Takahashi and Schneider teaches the transmission structure for synchronous rotation of louver blades of claim 2. Takahashi further teaches wherein more than two clamped blocks are uniformly distributed circumferentially (clamped block of fixing block 21f includes multiple affixing areas around the circumference).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US 8,281,518, US.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Susan M Heschel whose telephone number is (571)272-6621. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:00 am-4:00 pm.
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, Daniel Troy can be reached at (571)270-3742. 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.
/SUSAN M. HESCHEL/Examiner, Art Unit 3637
/Muhammad Ijaz/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3631
Prosecution Insights