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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 8/25/25 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Regarding claims 1,13,14 and 15, Applicant argues that Moore (US 2021/0061376) does not have “the guide disposed rearwardly of a front-facing surface of a front wall of the trailer”, however, applicant’s specification refers to the guide being number 352, which is visible in figures 1,3 and 5, however said guide 352 is disposed forwardly of a front-facing surface of a front wall of the trailer, instead of rearwardly, additionally, The non-Final rejection dated 4/29/25 in view of Moore described the guide as being numbers 137,138,216,320 and 321, wherein figures 4A show that the guide is placed in member 80, wherein member 80 is mounted on the front wall of the trailer when extended (see figure 3C); therefore, the guide in Moore can be said to be disposed forwardly of a front-facing surface of a front wall of the trailer see figure 3C.
The rejection in view of Moore has been changed to fit the amendment of the claims and is repeated below.
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 1-15 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. The claims (claim 1,13,14 and 15) were amended to include a guide “disposed rearwardly of a front -facing surface of a front wall of the trailer”, however, applicant’s specification refers to the guide being number 352, which is visible in figures 1,3 and 5, however said guide 352 is disposed forwardly of a front-facing surface of a front wall of the trailer, instead of rearwardly, therefore the claims are found to be indefinite.
Claims 16 and 23 (and therefore claims 24-32 and 34-41) 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. Claims 16 and 23 have been amended to state “an opening, defined by a front-facing surface of a front wall of the trailer”, however the opening 358 (seen in figure 4) is not on the front wall of the trailer, instead, it appears to be on a connector housing and the connector housing is mounted on the front wall of the trailer, therefore the amendment of claims 16 and 23 are found indefinite.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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.
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) 1-4 and 9-15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Moore (US 2021/0061376). Moore discloses a towing vehicle (12), comprising:
a towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart (42,80); and
a fixture (30,70) configured for releasably coupling –{{as the towing vehicle-defined connection seems to be connected to the fixture through bolts or pins, see figure 2 and 3A}}-- and with the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart;
wherein:
the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart is configured for connection to a trailer-defined connection counterpart (62,130) of a trailer, the trailer further including a guide (137,138,216,320,321 see figure 5B,8A and 19A) disposed forwardly of a front-facing surface of a front wall of the trailer (see figure 3C); and
the towing vehicle is configured to co-operate with trailer such that:
while: (i) the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart is coupled to the fixture (see figure 2 and 3D), (ii) the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the trailer-defined connection counterpart are co-operatively disposed in a misaligned relationship, wherein, in the misaligned relationship, there is an absence of alignment between the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the trailer-defined connection counterpart –{{see Par. 0084 where it states “The two heads may not be aligned well enough for them to mate properly. For example, there may be a small height difference (Y axis alignment error) and/or a slight misalignment about the X axis (which can be caused if the front of the trailer is not vertical, which can occur when the trailer is raised by the tractor's fifth wheel), and/or a misalignment (due to the trailer being at an angle behind the tractor rather than straight behind it) between the two heads”}}--, and (iii) the fixture is disposed in a guiding-effective relationship with the guide (see figure 2 and 3C):
an alignment relationship-obtaining displacement of the fixture, relative to the trailer-defined connection counterpart, is guidable, by the guide, wherein the guided displacement is effective for emplacing the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart in alignment with the trailer- defined connection counterpart, such that the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the trailer-defined connection counterpart become disposed in an alignment relationship for establishing connection between the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the trailer-defined connection counterpart—{{see Par. 0076 and 0087 as the arm is extended to connect the towing vehicle-defined connection to the trailer-defined connection, additionally see figure 16}}--.
Regarding claim 2, The towing vehicle as claimed in claim 1;the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the trailer-defined connection counterpart are co-operatively configured such that, in response to emplacement of the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the trailer-defined connection counterpart in the alignment relationship, the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the trailer-defined connection counterpart become connected (see figure 16 which shows a step by step of the coupling and decoupling of the towing and trailer defined connection counterparts).
Regarding claim 3, wherein: the connection, obtained in response to the emplacement of the towing vehicle- defined connection counterpart and the trailer-defined connection counterpart in the alignment relationship, is obtained autonomously (see abstract of Moore).
Regarding claim 4, further comprising: a first surface configuration counterpart (see Figure 19A as the first surface configuration can be seen as the contact surface where numerals 362,366 and 364 are); wherein: the first surface configuration counterpart and the fixture (30,70) are co-operatively configured such that guiding of the alignment relationship-obtaining displacement of the fixture is effectible by co-operation between the first surface configuration counterpart and a second surface configuration counterpart (see surface containing the members being pointed by numerals 336,340,338 in figure 19A) defined by the guide of the trailer.
Regarding claim 9, the connection is with effect that an electrical communication (through members 366,340, see figure 19A and Par. 0087) is established between the towing vehicle and the trailer for actuating a vehicular operation.
Regarding claim 10, the connection is with effect that a fluid pressure communication (through the glad hand seals 338,364,336,362, see figure 19A and Par. 0077) is established between the towing vehicle and the trailer for actuating a vehicular operation.
Regarding claim 11, wherein: the connection is with effect that communication is established between the towing vehicle and the trailer for actuating a vehicular operation (such as lights on the trailer or air brake operation through the glad hand seal connections, see details above).
Regarding claim 12, a fifth wheel (20); wherein: the fifth wheel is configured for slidably receiving a fifth wheel guiding counterpart (kingpin, Para 0048) of the trailer such that a fifth wheel coupling relationship is established (see figure 1); and the emplacement of the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the trailer-defined connection counterpart in the alignment relationship is obtained while the fifth wheel coupling relationship is established (see figure 2 in Moore).
Regarding claim 13, a trailer comprising: a guide (137,138,216,320,321 see figure 5B,8A and 19A) disposed forwardly of a front-facing surface of a front wall of the trailer (see figure 3C); and
a trailer-defined connection counterpart(62,130);
wherein:
the trailer-defined connection counterpart is configured for connection to a towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart (42,80) of a towing vehicle, with effect that communication between the towing vehicle and the trailer is established for actuating a vehicular operation (such as lights and air brakes);
the towing vehicle further includes:
a fixture (30,70) configured for releasably coupling with the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart; the towing vehicle is configured to co-operate with trailer such that: the guide is configured for guiding displacement of the fixture relative to the frame (see figures 4A,4B,5C and 5D); and
while: (i) the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart is coupled to the fixture (see figure 2 and 3D), (ii) the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the trailer-defined connection counterpart are co-operatively disposed in a misaligned relationship, wherein, in the misaligned relationship, there is an absence of alignment between the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the trailer-defined connection counterpart –{{see Par. 0084 where it states “The two heads may not be aligned well enough for them to mate properly. For example, there may be a small height difference (Y axis alignment error) and/or a slight misalignment about the X axis (which can be caused if the front of the trailer is not vertical, which can occur when the trailer is raised by the tractor's fifth wheel), and/or a misalignment (due to the trailer being at an angle behind the tractor rather than straight behind it) between the two heads”}}--, and (iii) the fixture is disposed in a guiding-effective relationship with the guide (see figure 2 and 3C):
an alignment relationship-obtaining displacement of the fixture, relative to the trailer-defined connection counterpart, is guidable, by the guide, wherein the guided displacement is effective for emplacing the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart in alignment with the trailer- defined connection counterpart, such that the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the trailer-defined connection counterpart become disposed in an alignment relationship for establishing connection between the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the trailer-defined connection counterpart—{{see Par. 0076 and 0087 as the arm is extended to connect the towing vehicle-defined connection to the trailer-defined connection, additionally see figure 16}}--.
Regarding claim 14, a kit for modifying a towing vehicle (12) and a trailer (14), comprising: towing vehicle adaptor components including: a towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart (42,80); and a fixture (30,70) configured for releasably coupling with the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart–{{as the towing vehicle-defined connection seems to be connected to the fixture through bolts or pins, see figure 2 and 3A}}-- ; trailer adaptor components (see figure 2 and 19A) including: a trailer-defined connection counterpart (62,130); and a guide (137,138,216,320,321 see figure 5B,8A and 19A) disposed forwardly of a front-facing surface of a front wall of the trailer (see figure 3C); wherein: while: (i) the towing vehicle adaptor components are installed within a towing vehicle, with effect that a modified towing vehicle is established, such that the modified towing vehicle includes the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the fixture (when the fifth wheel is coupled to the kingpin), and (ii) the trailer adaptor components are installed within a trailer with effect that a modified trailer is established (the trailer-defined connection counterpart is installed), such that the modified trailer includes the trailer-defined connection counterpart and the guide: the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart is connectible to the trailer- defined connection counterpart (see figure 2 and 19A); and the modified towing vehicle and the modified trailer are configured to co- operate such that while: (i) the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart is coupled to the fixture (see figure 2 and 3D), (ii) the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the trailer-defined connection counterpart are co-operatively disposed in a misaligned relationship, wherein, in the misaligned relationship, there is an absence of alignment between the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the trailer-defined connection counterpart –{{see Par. 0084 where it states “The two heads may not be aligned well enough for them to mate properly. For example, there may be a small height difference (Y axis alignment error) and/or a slight misalignment about the X axis (which can be caused if the front of the trailer is not vertical, which can occur when the trailer is raised by the tractor's fifth wheel), and/or a misalignment (due to the trailer being at an angle behind the tractor rather than straight behind it) between the two heads”}}--, and (iii) the fixture is disposed in a guiding-effective relationship with the guide (see figure 2 and 3C):
an alignment relationship-obtaining displacement of the fixture, relative to the trailer-defined connection counterpart, is guidable, by the guide, wherein the guided displacement is effective for emplacing the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart in alignment with the trailer- defined connection counterpart, such that the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the trailer-defined connection counterpart become disposed in an alignment relationship for establishing connection between the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the trailer-defined connection counterpart—{{see Par. 0076 and 0087 as the arm is extended to connect the towing vehicle-defined connection to the trailer-defined connection, additionally see figure 16}}--.
Regarding claim 15, a towing vehicle (12), comprising:
a towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart (42,80); and
a fixture (30,70) configured for releasably coupling –{{as the towing vehicle-defined connection seems to be connected to the fixture through bolts or pins, see figure 2 and 3A}}-- and with the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart;
wherein:
the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart is configured for connection to a trailer-defined connection counterpart (62,130) of a trailer, the trailer further including a guide (137,138,216,320,321 see figure 5B,8A and 19A) disposed forwardly of a front-facing surface of a front wall of the trailer (see figure 3C); and
the towing vehicle is configured to co-operate with trailer such that:
while: (i) the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart is coupled to the fixture (see figure 2 and 3D), (ii) the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the trailer-defined connection counterpart are co-operatively disposed in a misaligned relationship, wherein, in the misaligned relationship, there is an absence of alignment between the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the trailer-defined connection counterpart –{{see Par. 0084 where it states “The two heads may not be aligned well enough for them to mate properly. For example, there may be a small height difference (Y axis alignment error) and/or a slight misalignment about the X axis (which can be caused if the front of the trailer is not vertical, which can occur when the trailer is raised by the tractor's fifth wheel), and/or a misalignment (due to the trailer being at an angle behind the tractor rather than straight behind it) between the two heads”}}--, and (iii) the fixture is disposed in a guiding-effective relationship with the guide (see figure 2 and 3C):
an alignment relationship-obtaining displacement of the fixture, relative to the trailer-defined connection counterpart, is guidable, by the guide, wherein the guided displacement is effective for emplacing the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart in alignment with the trailer- defined connection counterpart, such that the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the trailer-defined connection counterpart become disposed in an alignment relationship for establishing connection between the towing vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the trailer-defined connection counterpart—{{see Par. 0076 and 0087 as the arm is extended to connect the towing vehicle-defined connection to the trailer-defined connection, additionally see figure 16}}--.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 5-8 and 33 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Regarding claim 33, the trailer connection counterpart is disposed forwardly of the front facing surface instead of rearwardly.
Claims 16-32 and 34-41 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.
Conclusion
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 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 nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) 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 Marlon A Arce whose telephone number is (571)272-1341. The examiner can normally be reached 8AM - 4:30PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Valentin Neacsu can be reached at 571-272-6265. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MARLON A ARCE/Examiner, Art Unit 3611 /VALENTIN NEACSU/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3611