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.
Claims 1-6 are 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.
Claim 1 recites “by forcing one or both of a first cam and a second cam to incline” however there is no frame of reference for what direction the cams incline or relative to what other component. Do the cams incline relative to the outer or inner rings, or relative to each other, or relative to a radial direction? If they start inclined along a radial direction, would they be interpreted as already inclined or is it movement that is encompassed by the incline?
Claim 1 recites “a first driven node and a second driven node.” It is unclear structurally what a node is or may be. References 160 and 170 are called nodes, one of which points to a ring with outer teeth and a pin 165, the other of which is a ring with inner splines and a pin 175. There is no special definition in the specification defining the structure of a node. The general definitions includes, for example, a mass of tissue, an entangling complication, one of two points on the orbit of a planet or comet that intersects with the equator, a point or line of a vibration body that is free of vibration, and a point at which parts originate (see NPL document Definitions of Node, www.retrieved from Merriam-webster.com). It is unclear how any of these definitions apply to either the ring or to the pins. As such it is unclear structurally or functionally what elements may or may not be interpreted as a node.
For purposes of examination, since the recited node guide regions respectively move the two nodes, the nodes are interpreted as the pins or protrusions that are guiding by the node guide regions. Alternatively, it is noted that portions of claim 2 that structurally define the nodes as annular bodies with elements that protrude provide alternative claim language to define the nodes in a clear manner. Also, it is noted that claim 6 includes two protrusions and any amendment to add protrusions to claim 1 should be clearly distinguished from the outward and inward protrusions of claim 6 of the regulating cage.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-6 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
With reference to claim 1, the prior art does not disclose or render obvious a selectable clutch comprising the two cams operating in different directions between inner and outer rings, outer ring-side cage ring and the inner ring-side cage ring both movable in an axial direction, and the two cage ring movements respectively change the posture of the respective cams between engagement and idling via a cylindrical cam with a cam groove that has two portions to engage two projections that are connected to the cylindrical cam and respectively connected to the cage rings, as recited.
The prior art which includes two cage rings, typically have rings which only rotate. However, some of references include either limited or vibration-type axial movement of both rings (see e.g., US 4,911,273), not caused by a cam groove with projections, or with only one of the rings axially moved by a cam groove. The combination of using the same cylindrical cam to axially moved both rings which act on different direction cams between their positions is not an obvious combination. The closest prior art is Stark et al. (US 5,343,992) however this reference only moves one of the two rings axially which then causes relative rotation of the two rings. US 3,907,083 is another example where a single ring moves axially. US 2,910,159 uses one cam mechanism to effect two cam rings however the two cam rings do not move axially. In addition, US 9,212,707 simultaneously rotates two rings using two portions of cam grooves and one projection.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US 2017/0327143 discloses a cam clutch with a cage that is moved based on an axially moving element. US 2014/0202821 and US 8,307,925 each disclose two clutch cam rings, one of which moves axially. US 2013/0319811 discloses an axially moving element 22 that simultaneously rotates two cam rings.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to STACEY A FLUHART whose telephone number is (571)270-1851. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th 9AM-7PM.
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/STACEY A FLUHART/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3655
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