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 .
Response to Amendment
The Amendment filed 07/23/2026 has been entered. Claims 1, 5-6, 10-11 and 15 remain pending in the application.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments filed 07/23/2026 have been fully considered. The amendments to claims 1 and 6 have overcome the prior art of record. There is no amendment made to independent claim 11 and the prior rejection of claim 11 is accordingly maintained.
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 11 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Akiba (JP2013133847 A).
Regarding Claim 11 Akiba teaches a method of using a drive system, the method comprising the steps of: providing that the drive system includes a remote drive (240) and an actuator (Fig 6), the remote drive (240) being configured for being driven by an electrical motor (10), the actuator (Fig 6) being spaced apart from and fluidically coupled with the remote drive (240), the remote drive including a rack and pinion system (Fig 6) and a plurality of piston assemblies (see Fig below) coupled therewith, the rack and pinion system including a first rack (243), a second rack (247), and a pinion (242) engaging the first rack (243) and the second rack (247), the plurality of piston assemblies each including an inner piston (see Fig below) and an outer piston (see Fig below) which are configured for sliding relative to one another and thereby for selectively opening and closing a working medium passage therebetween (see Fig below); and fluidically powering the actuator by the remote drive (240) (Fig 6).
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Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 5-6 and 15 are allowed.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL 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 extension fee 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 ABIY TEKA whose telephone number is (571)272-9804. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F 11-9 PM
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Nathaniel Nathaniel E. Wiehe can be reached on 571-272-8648. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ABIY TEKA/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3745
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