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 § 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) 1-5, 9, 13-15, and 18-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a1) as being anticipated by Frazier 6189876.
Fraizer discloses the claimed invention as recited in the claims as shown below:
Claim 1. (original) A positioning device (100) for a system (200) for positioning a first object (302) in relation to a second object (304) in a X¥-reference system, the positioning device (700) comprising: a first XY-reference means 14 (102) configured to be fixed to the first object (302), and a second X¥-reference means 20 (104) configured to be fixed to the second object (304): wherein the first XY-reference means (102) comprises a spring arrangement 16 (130) configured ic abut against the second XY-reference means (104) in operation for positioning the first object (802) in relation to the second object (304) in XY¥-directions, the spring arrangement (130) comprising at least one first spring partion 16 the first portion (132) serially coupled to at least one secand spring portion 16 the middle portion(134), arid the first spring portion (132) Is configured to deflect in a positive Z-direction (the Zdirection is the up and down direction) (#Z) in operation and the second spring portion (134) is configured to deflect in a negative Z-diraction (- 2) in operation to compensating for the deflection of the first spring portion (132) in the positive é-direction,
Claim 2. {original} The positioning device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the first spring portion (132) is configured to deflect in the positive Z-cirection (+Z) with a first ammount, and the second spring partion (134) is configured to deflect in the negative 2-direction (-Z) with @ second amount, wherein the first amount is substantially the same as the second amaunt. The spring is flexible on both sides and compress so based on dimensions metric or English they would compress or deflects atleast two dimentions in a positive or negative directions.
Claim 3. (currently amended) The positioning device (100) accarding to claim 1, anyorneofihe preceding-ciaims,; wherein the first XY-reference means (102) has a in a Z-direction conical inner surface; and the second XY-reference means (104) has a in a Z-direction conical outer surface. The conical surface is when the spring expands and compresses which would form a conical shape
Claim 4.(currently amended} The positioning device (100) according to claim 1, anyane-efthe precading- clans, wherein the spring arrangement (130) has an annular disc shape; and the second X¥-reference means (104) comprises a taper. The spring has annular which from the top which has circular shape when viewed from the top.
Claim 5. (currently amended} The positioning device (400) accarding to claim 1, any-one-ciine areceding-claims, wherein the second XY-reference means (104) is configured to be fixed to the second object (304) Via & spacer 40 (170).
Claim 9. (currently amended) The positioning device (100) according to claim 1, any-ene-ofthe preceding-claims, wherein the spring arrangement (130) comprises a spring coupling portion (140) configured to serially couple the first spring portion (132) and the second spring portion (134). The spring is coupled from the first end to the second end.
Claim 13. (currently arnended) The positioning device (100) according to claim 1, anyone-ofthe preceding--claims, wherein the spring arrangement (130) Is formed from a single sheet metal piece with canstant thickness, See Fig.4 which shows constant spring thickness
Claim 14. (currently amended) The positioning device (100) according to claim 1,This how the device works
Claim 15. (currently amended) A system (200) for positioning a first object (302) in relation to a second object (304) in a XY-reference system, the system (200) comprising at least one positioning device (100) according to claim 1 The device is a system.
Claim 18. (new) A system (200) for positioning a first object (302) in relation to a second object (304) in a XY-reference system, the system (200) comprising at least one positioning device (100) according to claim 2. This how the device works
Claim 19. (new) A system (200) for positioning a first object (302) in relation to a second object (304) in a XY-reference system, the system (200) comprising at least one positioning device (100) according to claim 3. This how the device works
Claim 20. (new) A system (200) for positioning a first object (302) in relation to a second object (304) in a XY-reference system, the system (200) comprising at least one positioning device (100) according to claim 4. This how the device works
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 6-8, 10-12, and 16-17 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.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The 892 form discloses prior art being made of record.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LEE D WILSON whose telephone number is (571)272-4499. The examiner can normally be reached M-TH 6;30-4;30.
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LEE D. WILSON
Examiner
Art Unit 3723
Ldw
/LEE D WILSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3723 January 20, 2026
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