www.uspto.gov
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`PO. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 2231371450
`
`15/950,796
`
`04/11/2018
`
`Kuniyuki OGAWA
`
`20296.0058USC1
`
`4388
`
`53148
`
`759°
`
`02/11/20”
`
`HAMRE, SCHUMANN, MUELLER & LARSON RC.
`45 South Seventh Street
`Suite 2700
`
`MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55402-1683
`
`LUKS' JEREMY AUSTIN
`
`ART UNIT
`2837
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`02/1 1/2019
`
`ELECTRONIC
`
`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
`
`The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.
`
`Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above—indicated "Notification Date" to the
`
`following e—mail address(es):
`PTOMail@hsml.eom
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`Off/09 A0170” Summary
`
`Application No.
`15/950,796
`Examiner
`JEREMY A LU KS
`
`Applicant(s)
`OGAWA, Kuniyuki
`Art Unit
`AIA Status
`2837
`Yes
`
`- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet wit/7 the correspondence address -
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLY IS SET TO EXPIRE g MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available under the provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply be timely filed after SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing
`date of this communication.
`|f NO period for reply is specified above, the maximum statutory period will apply and will expire SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing date of this communication.
`-
`- Failure to reply within the set or extended period for reply will, by statute, cause the application to become ABANDONED (35 U.S.C. § 133).
`Any reply received by the Office later than three months after the mailing date of this communication, even if timely filed, may reduce any earned patent term
`adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
`
`Status
`
`1). Responsive to communication(s) filed on 12/18/18.
`[:1 A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
`
`2a). This action is FINAL.
`
`2b) C] This action is non-final.
`
`3)[:] An election was made by the applicant in response to a restriction requirement set forth during the interview on
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`
`4)[:] Since this application is in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is
`closed in accordance with the practice under Expat/7e Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`5)
`Claim(s)
`
`6—23 is/are pending in the application.
`
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
`
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`E] Claim(s)
`
`is/are allowed.
`
`Claim(s) % is/are rejected.
`
`[:1 Claim(s) _ is/are objected to.
`
`) ) ) )
`
`6 7
`
`8
`
`
`
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement
`[j Claim(s)
`9
`* If any claims have been determined aflowabte. you may be eligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
`
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`
`http://www.uspto.gov/patents/init events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPeredback@uspto.gov.
`
`Application Papers
`10)[:] The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`
`11)[:] The drawing(s) filed on
`
`is/are: a)D accepted or b)l:] objected to by the Examiner.
`
`Applicant may not request that any objection to the drawing(s) be held in abeyance. See 37 CFR 1.85(a).
`Replacement drawing sheet(s) including the correction is required if the drawing(s) is objected to. See 37 CFR 1.121 (d).
`
`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
`12). Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`
`a). All
`
`b)I:J Some”
`
`c)C] None of the:
`
`1.[:] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`
`2.. Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No. 14/778,608.
`
`3:] Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been received in this National Stage
`application from the International Bureau (PCT Rule 17.2(a)).
`
`** See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
`
`Attachment(s)
`
`1) C] Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`2)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date m.
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3) C] Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`4) CI Other-
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20190206
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/950,796
`Art Unit: 2837
`
`Page 2
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
`
`1.
`
`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 § 1 12
`
`2.
`
`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.
`
`3.
`
`Claim 14 is 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 pre-AIA the applicant regards
`
`as the invention. Claim 14 requires “a plurality of wires having a first wire...the plurality
`
`of wires respectively connected to a conductive member...wherein the end of the first
`
`wire and the connecting part of the conductive wire are inserted into a connection
`
`terminal having a crimping part, and...are crimped by the crimping part, and the plurality
`
`of wires and the conductive member to which the plurality of wires is respectively
`
`connected are crimped by a single kind of the connection terminal.” It is unclear from
`
`the claims and other disclosure if the “plurality of wires respectively connected to a
`
`conductive member” is referring to a plurality of wires respectively (i.e. individually)
`
`connected to a plurality of conductive members, or if the plurality of wires are all
`
`respectively (i.e. individually) connected to a single conductive member. Because
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/950,796
`Art Unit: 2837
`
`Page 3
`
`Applicant refers to “a conductive member”, it would appear that the conductive member
`
`is intended to be a singular conductive member crimped with the first wire as described
`
`in the claims, but the claims also states that the plurality of wires are respectively (i.e.
`
`individually) connected to a conductive member, which conversely seems to indicate
`
`that the aforementioned conductive member could contain either a plurality of
`
`conductive members, each respectively connected to the plurality of wires, or even
`
`further possible the plurality of wires would be connected to the conductive member at a
`
`location different than the first wire, which there does not appear to be any disclosure
`
`for. Applicant’s admitted prior art in Figure 3 does show a plurality of wires (20/21) that
`
`are respectively (or individually) connected to different leads or conductive members
`
`(22/23). Figure 3 and 6 further show where the plurality of wires (20/21), including the
`
`first wire (one of 20/21) are connected to the same conductive member (24), but they
`
`are not respectively (or individually) connected to wire #24, as all three wires are
`
`crimped together by a singular crimping part, which one of ordinary skill would not
`
`consider to be respective or individual connections. Given to body of the claim, it
`
`appears Applicant is intending to mean that the claimed “a conductive member” is
`
`referring to a plurality of conductive members as opposed to a singular conductive
`
`member, and the Examiner will interpret the claims in this way for the purpose of the
`
`rejection. Further clarification is necessary.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`1.
`
`In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to NA 35
`
`U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AlA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/950,796
`Art Unit: 2837
`
`Page 4
`
`correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of
`
`rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be
`
`the same under either status.
`
`2.
`
`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.
`
`3.
`
`Claims 5-11, 13-21 and 23 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being
`
`unpatentable over AAPA (Applicant’s Admitted Prior Art, Figures 4A-7C, Specification,
`
`[0001]-[0012]) in view of Kumakura (2009/0269970).
`
`With respect to Claim 14, AAPA teaches a motor (See Specification, [0002])
`
`comprising: a plurality of wires (Figures 3-6C, #20/21) having a first wire (21), the first
`
`wire (21) having an end (21a), the plurality of wires (20/21) being respectively
`
`connected to a conductive member (defined by plurality of conductive members #22/23,
`
`as discussed above as the Examiner’s interpretation of the claim) having a connecting
`
`part (22a/23a), wherein the end (21a) of the first wire (21) and the connecting part (23a)
`
`of the conductive member (23) are inserted into a connection terminal (25) having a
`
`crimping part (25a), and the end (21a) of the first wire (21) and the connecting part
`
`(23a) of the conductive member (23) are crimped by the crimping part (25a), and
`
`wherein the conductive member (23) has a diameter greater than a diameter of the first
`
`wire (21 ), and when crimped, the first wire and the conductive member are electrically
`
`connected (unstably connected as described in [0010], but nonetheless they are
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/950,796
`Art Unit: 2837
`
`Page 5
`
`electrically connected), the plurality of wires (20/21) includes a wire (20) having a wire
`
`diameter different from the diameter of the first wire (21 ), and the plurality of wires
`
`(20/21) and the conductive member (22/23) to which the plurality of wires (20/21) is
`
`respectively connected are crimped by a single kind of the connection terminal (25 —
`
`see Figures 4A-C and 5A-C). AAPA fails to teach the first wire having an end for
`
`folding, comprising: the end folded at least once in the first wire; wherein the folded end
`
`of the first wire and the connecting part of the conductive member are crimped by the
`
`crimping part. Kumakura teaches wherein it is known to provide an end (Figures 1-3,
`
`#5) of a wire (1) to be crimped in a connection terminal part (3/11), includes the first wire
`
`(1) having an end (5/9/10) for folding (9) at least once in the first wire (1); wherein the
`
`folded end (5/9/10) of the first wire (1) and the connecting part of the conductive
`
`member (when combined as detailed above) are crimped by the crimping part (when
`
`combined as detailed above), such that the contact area between the core wire (i.e. first
`
`wire) and the crimping member can be increased, and accordingly, the fixing force of
`
`the electric wire connection portion can be increased, and the electric resistance thereof
`
`can be reduced and stabilized.
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the
`
`art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the apparatus of
`
`AAPA, with the apparatus of Kumakura such that the fixing force of the electric wire
`
`connection portion can be increased, and the electric resistance thereof can be reduced
`
`and stabilized.
`
`With respect to Claim 6, AAPA and Kumakura teach wherein when crimped, the
`
`first wire (AAPA, #21, Kumakura, #1) and the conductive member (AAPA, #22/23) have
`
`a predetermined amount of distortion.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/950,796
`Art Unit: 2837
`
`Page 6
`
`With respect to Claim 7, AAPA and Kumakura are relied upon for the reasons
`
`and disclosures set forth above. AAPA and Kumakura fail to explicitly teach wherein
`
`the conductive member is a copper. However, it would have been obvious to one of
`
`ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to provide wherein the
`
`conductive member is a copper, since it has been held to be within the general skill of a
`
`worker in the art to select a known material on the basis of its suitability for the intended
`
`use as a matter of obvious design choice.
`
`In re Leshin, 125 USPQ 416. Further, the
`
`Examiner considers it to be well known to use copper as a material for conductive
`
`parts/wires
`
`With respect to Claim 8, AAPA teaches wherein the conductive member (22/23)
`
`is a wire.
`
`With respect to Claim 9, Kumakura teaches wherein the first wire (1/5) includes
`
`at least one of a copper wire, an aluminum wire, and a copper-clad aluminum wire
`
`([0044]).
`
`With respect to Claim 10, AAPA teaches wherein each of the first wire (21) and
`
`the conductive member (22/23) is a single wire.
`
`With respect to Claim 11, AAPA teaches wherein conductive member (22/23) is a
`
`twisted wire.
`
`With respect to Claim 13, AAPA teaches further comprising a second conductive
`
`member (could be conductive member #22 when the conductive member is a plurality
`
`of conductive members as interpreted by the Examiner, or could be conductive member
`
`#24), wherein the conductive member (22/23) and the second conductive member (22
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/950,796
`Art Unit: 2837
`
`Page 7
`
`or 24) have different diameters (note in Figures 4A-C, 5A-C and 6A-C that each of
`
`conductive members 22/23/24 have different diameters).
`
`With respect to Claim 15, AAPA teaches a motor (See Specification, [0002])
`
`comprising: a first wire (21) having an end (21a), a first connection terminal (Figures 5A-
`
`C, #25) connected to a conductive member (23) having a connecting part (22a/23a);
`
`and a second connection terminal (terminal (Figures 4A-C, #25); wherein the end (21 a)
`
`of the first wire (21) and the connecting part (23a) of the conductive member (23) are
`
`inserted into the first connection terminal (25) having a crimping part (25a), and the end
`
`(21a) of the first wire (21) and the connecting part (23a) of the conductive member (23)
`
`are crimped by the crimping part (25a), and wherein the conductive member (23) has a
`
`diameter greater than a diameter of the first wire (21), and when crimped, the first wire
`
`and the conductive member are electrically and mechanically connected (unstably
`
`connected as described in [0010], but nonetheless they are electrically and
`
`mechanically connected), and the first connection terminal (Figures 5A-C, #25) and the
`
`second connection terminal (terminal (Figures 4A-C, #25) are a single kind of the
`
`connection terminal (25 — see Figures 4A-C and 5A-C). AAPA fails to teach the first
`
`wire having an end for folding, comprising: the end folded at least once in the first wire;
`
`wherein the folded end of the first wire and the connecting part of the conductive
`
`member are crimped by the crimping part. Kumakura teaches wherein it is known to
`
`provide an end (Figures 1-3, #5) of a wire (1) to be crimped in a connection terminal
`
`part (3/11), includes the first wire (1) having an end (5/9/10) for folding (9) at least once
`
`in the first wire (1); wherein the folded end (5/9/10) of the first wire (1) and the
`
`connecting part of the conductive member (when combined as detailed above) are
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/950,796
`Art Unit: 2837
`
`Page 8
`
`crimped by the crimping part (when combined as detailed above), such that the contact
`
`area between the core wire (i.e. first wire) and the crimping member can be increased,
`
`and accordingly, the fixing force of the electric wire connection portion can be
`
`increased, and the electric resistance thereof can be reduced and stabilized.
`
`It would
`
`have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the
`
`claimed invention to combine the apparatus of AAPA, with the apparatus of Kumakura
`
`such that the fixing force of the electric wire connection portion can be increased, and
`
`the electric resistance thereof can be reduced and stabilized.
`
`With respect to Claim 16, AAPA and Kumakura teach wherein when crimped, the
`
`first wire (AAPA, #21, Kumakura, #1) and the conductive member (AAPA, #22/23) have
`
`a predetermined amount of distortion.
`
`With respect to Claim 17, AAPA and Kumakura are relied upon for the reasons
`
`and disclosures set forth above. AAPA and Kumakura fail to explicitly teach wherein
`
`the conductive member is a copper. However, it would have been obvious to one of
`
`ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to provide wherein the
`
`conductive member is a copper, since it has been held to be within the general skill of a
`
`worker in the art to select a known material on the basis of its suitability for the intended
`
`use as a matter of obvious design choice.
`
`In re Leshin, 125 USPQ 416. Further, the
`
`Examiner considers it to be well known to use copper as a material for conductive
`
`parts/wires
`
`With respect to Claim 18, AAPA teaches wherein the conductive member (22/23)
`
`is a wire.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/950,796
`Art Unit: 2837
`
`Page 9
`
`With respect to Claim 19, Kumakura teaches wherein the first wire (1/5) includes
`
`at least one of a copper wire, an aluminum wire, and a copper-clad aluminum wire
`
`([0044]).
`
`With respect to Claim 20, AAPA teaches wherein each of the first wire (21) and
`
`the conductive member (23) is a single wire.
`
`With respect to Claim 21, AAPA teaches wherein the conductive member (22/23)
`
`is a twisted wire.
`
`With respect to Claim 23, AAPA teaches further comprising a second conductive
`
`member (could be conductive member #22 when the conductive member is a plurality
`
`of conductive members as interpreted by the Examiner, or could be conductive member
`
`#24), wherein the conductive member (22/23) and the second conductive member (22
`
`or 24) have different diameters (note in Figures 4A-C, 5A-C and 6A-C that each of
`
`conductive members 22/23/24 have different diameters).
`
`4.
`
`Claims 12 and 22 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`AAPA (Applicant’s Admitted Prior Art, Figures 4A-7C, Specification, [0001]—[0012]) in
`
`view of Kumakura (2009/0269970), as applied to claim 5 above, and further in view of
`
`Woodard (5,984,711).
`
`With respect to Claim 12, AAPA and Kumakura are relied upon for the reasons
`
`and disclosures set forth above. Kumakura further teaches the first wire (1) having an
`
`end (5/9/10) for folding (9) at least once in the first wire (1). AAPA and Kumakura fail to
`
`explicitly teach wherein the end of the first wire is folded at least twice. Woodard
`
`teaches a similar wire having an end for folding (See Figures 5A-C), wherein the end of
`
`the wire is folded at least twice (Figure 5C) so as to increase the wire gauge.
`
`It would
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/950,796
`Art Unit: 2837
`
`Page 10
`
`have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the
`
`claimed invention to combine the apparatus of AAPA as modified, with the apparatus of
`
`Woodard so as to increase the gauge of the wire, as will be appreciated by those skilled
`
`in the art.
`
`With respect to Claim 24, AAPA and Kumakura are relied upon for the reasons
`
`and disclosures set forth above. Kumakura further teaches the first wire (1) having an
`
`end (5/9/10) for folding (9) at least once in the first wire (1). AAPA and Kumakura fail to
`
`explicitly teach wherein the end of the first wire is folded at least twice. Woodard
`
`teaches a similar wire having an end for folding (See Figures 5A-C), wherein the end of
`
`the wire is folded at least twice (Figure 50) so as to increase the wire gauge.
`
`It would
`
`have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the
`
`claimed invention to combine the apparatus of AAPA as modified, with the apparatus of
`
`Woodard so as to increase the gauge of the wire, as will be appreciated by those skilled
`
`in the art.
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`4.
`
`Applicant's arguments filed 12/18/18 have been fully considered but they are not
`
`persuasive. The Examiner still considers the obvious combination of AAPA, Kumakura
`
`and Woodard to teach all of the limitations as claimed by Applicant.
`
`5.
`
`Because Applicant has not argued the merits of the rejection, the Examiner
`
`considers the above rejections to new independent claims 14 and 15 to be fully
`
`responsive the Applicant’s remarks.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/950,796
`Art Unit: 2837
`
`Page 11
`
`Conclusion
`
`6.
`
`Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in
`
`this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP
`
`§ 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37
`
`CFR1.136(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 date of this final action.
`
`7.
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to JEREMY AUSTIN LUKS whose telephone number is
`
`(571)272-2707. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday (8:00-4:30).
`
`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, Shawki Ismail can be reached on 571-272—3985. The fax phone number for
`
`the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/950,796
`Art Unit: 2837
`
`Page 12
`
`Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the
`
`Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for
`
`published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR.
`
`Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only.
`
`For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should
`
`you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic
`
`Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a
`
`USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information
`
`system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571 -272-1 000.
`
`/JEREMY A LUKS/
`
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2837
`
`