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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on July 10, 2026 has been entered.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1 and 5-8 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
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 5-8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Ainsworth US 305,876.
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Ainsworth discloses an apparatus capable of relieving a tension strand of a prestressed tower of a wind power plant, the apparatus comprising: a first anchoring unit (A) with a first tension strand receptacle (A’, D, E) for receiving a first section of the tension strand (Belt, F), a second anchoring unit (A) with a second tension strand receptacle (A’, D, E) for receiving a second section of the tension strand (Belt, F), and a lifting unit (C) configured to change a spacing between the first and second anchoring units and to relieve the tension strand between the first and second anchoring units, wherein the lifting unit connects the first and second anchoring units and is arranged between the first and second anchoring units, wherein the lifting unit is configured to increase and/or decrease the spacing between the first and second anchoring units (lines 57-59), and wherein the lifting unit is a spindle lifting mechanism, and wherein the spindle lifting mechanism includes two threaded spindles (C) connected via axial bearings (a) to the second anchoring unit and run through nuts (B), the run through nuts fixedly coupled to the first anchoring unit (see line 28-30, nuts B are held).
As for claim 5, Ainsworth discloses wherein at least one of the first anchoring unit (A) or the second anchoring unit (A) is configured in two pieces (see Fig. 2 above, A and A’).
As for claim 6, Ainsworth discloses wherein at least one of the first anchoring unit (A) or the second anchoring unit (A) has a first anchor base (A) and a first anchor plate (A’).
As for claim 7, Ainsworth discloses wherein at least one of the first anchoring unit and the second anchoring unit has a length, a width, and a depth, the depth being multiple times smaller than the width and/or the length. Figures 1 and 2 shows wherein the anchoring units have a length, width and a depth wherein the depth is smaller than the width and or length.
As for claim 8, Ainsworth discloses wherein at least one of the first anchoring unit (A) or the second anchoring unit (A) has a first clamping unit (A’, D), the first clamping unit and the second anchoring unit being arranged at least in sections in the first and second tension strand receptacles, respectively [see annotated Figure below, clamping unit and second anchoring units (A’) are hinged to and swung into the recessed portion of the clamp bars (A) and pressed by screws (D) to clamp the strand (E)].
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Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TYRONE V HALL JR whose telephone number is (571)270-5948. The examiner can normally be reached Mon.-Fri. 7:30am-3:30pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Monica Carter can be reached at (571) 272-4475. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/TYRONE V HALL JR/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3723
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