Office Action 2: Notice of Allowance (2025-07-03)

CLAIMS:
Amendments to the Claims This listing of claims will replace all prior versions, and listings, of claims in the application:SVG {EMBED HERE} 0.186.54

1\. (Original) A cover apparatus for a bearing comprising:a body defining a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the body dimensioned to provide a stop against an outer surface of a bearing;
a boss protruding from the first side of the body, the boss dimensioned for a press- fit connection with a bearing bore of the bearing; and
a knob protruding from the second side of the body opposite the first side.

2\. (Original) The cover apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body is dimension greater than the bearing bore of the bearing.

3\. (Original) The cover apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first side of the body includes a recess defining a cavity.

4\. (Original) The cover apparatus of claim 3, wherein the boss protrudes from a base surface of the cavity defined by the recess.

5\. (Original) The cover apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first side of the body defines a first seating surface and a second seating surface different than the first seating surface.

6\. (Original) The cover apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first seating surface engages a first side surface of an outer ring of the bearing and the second seating surface engages a first side surface of an inner ring of the bearing.

7\. (Original) The cover apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second seating surface is recessed relative to the first seating surface.SVG {EMBED HERE} 0.186.54

8\. (Original) The cover apparatus of claim 7, wherein the boss protrudes from the second seating surface.

9\. (Original) The cover apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first seating surface has a first diameter that is substantially equal to an outside diameter of an outer ring of the bearing.

10\. (Original) The cover apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second seating surface has a second diameter that is greater than an outside diameter of an inner ring of the bearing.

11\. (Original) The cover apparatus of claim 1, wherein the boss has a length that is at least one of half of a thickness of the bearing or less than half the thickness of the bearing, the thickness of the bearing provided between a first side of an outer ring of the bearing and a second side of the outer ring of the bearing opposite the first side.

12\. (Original) The cover apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cover apparatus is to remain engaged with the bearing via a frictional force between an inner surface of the bearing bore and an outer surface of the boss.

13\. (Original) The cover apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cover apparatus is removably coupled to the bearing via the knob.

14\. (Original) The cover apparatus of claim 1, wherein the boss has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the bearing bore of the bearing, the boss to is to compress circumferentially when the boss is inserted into the bearing bore.

15\. (Currently Amended) A cover assembly for use with a bearing, the cover assembly comprising:a first cover to couple to a first side of a bearing, the first cover including a first protrusion, a first seating surface and a second seating surface, the first protrusionSVG {EMBED HERE} 0.186.54

dimensioned to be press-fit into a bore of the bearing, the first seating surface engages a first side of an outer ring of the bearing; anda second cover to couple to a second side of the bearing opposite the first side, the second cover including a second protrusion, a third seating surface and a fourth seating surface, the second cover dimensioned to be press-fit into the bore of the bearing.

16\. (Original) The cover assembly of claim 15, wherein the first protrusion is dimensioned to be press-fit into a first side of the bore and the second protrusion is dimensioned to be press-fit into a second side of the bore.

17\. (Original) The cover assembly of claim 15, wherein the first cover and the second cover are dimensioned to be coupled to the bearing via a friction-fit connection provided by a first interface between the first protrusion and the bore of the bearing and a second interface provided by the second protrusion and the bore of the bearing.

18\. (Currently Amended) The cover assembly of claim 15, wherein the second seating surface engages a first side of an inner ring of the bearing, and the first protrusion is at least partially inserted in the bore of the bearing when the first cover is coupled to a first side of the bearing.

19\. (Original) A method of forming a cover for a bearing, the method comprising:forming a body defining a first side and a second side;
providing a boss protruding from the first side, the boss having a diameter that is greater than a bore diameter of a bearing to which the cover is to couple; and
providing a grip protruding from the second side of the body.

20\. (Original) The method of claim 19, wherein forming the body further includes forming a first seating surface and a second seating surface recessed relative to the first seating surface on the first side of the body.HANLEY, FLIGHT & ZIMMERMAN, LLC Page 5 of 7

OFFICE 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 .
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-20 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: the prior art record does not disclose nor render obvious the combination 1, 15, and 19.
In particular for claim 1, the prior art of record does not disclose nor render obvious a cover apparatus for a bearing comprising a knob protruding from the second side of the body opposite the first side in combination with the other claim limitations.
In particular for claim 15, the prior art of record does not disclose nor render obvious the cover assembly wherein the first seating surface engages a first side of an outer ring of the bearing in combination with the other claim limitations.
In particular for claim 19, the prior art of record does not disclose or render obvious a method of forming a cover for a bearing, the method comprising a grip protruding from the second side of the body in combination with the other claim limitations.
The bearing covers in the prior arts shows the cover having a protrusion toward or outward the bearing but none of them show any sort of grip or knob on the cover.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee.  Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKSThe Office action of June 2, 2025 has been considered. By way of this response, claims 15 and 18 have been amended. No new matter has been added. This application is in condition for allowance and favorable reconsideration is respectfully requested.Allowed Claims The Applicant notes with appreciation the indication that claims 1-14 and 19-20 are in condition for allowance.Allowable Subject Matter Claim 18 would be allowable if rewritten in independent claim to include the subject matter if its base claim and any intervening claim(s).35 U.S.C. §102 Rejections Claims 15-17 were rejected under 35 U.S.C. §102, as allegedly being anticipated by Lemen (US 20180141376). All rejections are respectfully traversed.Claim 15 sets forth a first cover to couple to a first side of a bearing, the first cover including a first protrusion, a first seating surface and a second seating surface, the first seating surface to engage a first side of an outer ring of the bearing. Claim 15 is allowable over Lemen.Lemen mentions an outboard guard 321 and an outboard retainer cap 320, where "the retainer cap 320 includes an outboard alignment protrusion 337 that contacts an inner surface 338 (see FIG. 6) of the outboard bearing cone 317"..."an engagement portion 339 and a retaining flange 340, where the retaining flame 340 engages with an outboard bearing protector portion of the outboard guardd 321." (Lemen, ¶53)(emphasis added). Because the retaining flange 340 of the outboard retainer cap 320 engages the outboard guard 321, Lemen fails to teach or suggest a first cover to couple to a first side of a bearing, the first cover including a first protrusion, a first seating surface and a second seating surface, the first seating surface to engage a first side of an outer ring of the bearing, as set forth by claim 15. Thus, Lemen fails to establish a prima facie case of anticipation against claim 15. Accordingly, claim 15 and all claims that depend therefrom are in condition for allowance.CONCLUSIONIn general, the official action makes various statements regarding the claims and the cited references that are now moot in light of the above. Thus, the applicants will not address such statements at the present time. However, the applicants expressly reserve the right to challenge such statements in the future should the need arise (e.g., if such statements should become relevant by appearing in a rejection of any current or future claim).The Commissioner is hereby authorized to refund any overpayment and charge any deficiency in the amount paid in connection with this paper or any additional fees which may be required during the pendency of this application under 37 CFR 1.16 or 1.17 to Deposit Account No. 50-2455. In addition, if a petition for an extension of time under 37 CFR 1.136(a) is necessary to maintain the pendency of this case and is not otherwise requested in this case, the assignee requests that the Commissioner consider this paper to be a petition for an extension of time and authorizes the Commissioner to charge the fee as set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(a) corresponding to the needed extension of time to Deposit Account No. 50-2455.Respectfully submitted on this date June 12, 2025.HANLEY, FLIGHT & ZIMMERMAN, LLC