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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to because Figures 2 and 3 both show multiple views. When a portion of a view is enlarged for magnification purposes, the view and the enlarged view must each be labeled as separate views, 37 CFR 1.84(h)(2).
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Specification
The abstract of the disclosure is objected to because it should likely be amended to recite --a load compartment ([[2]]3), a crane ([[3]]2)--. A corrected abstract of the disclosure is required and must be presented on a separate sheet, apart from any other text. See MPEP § 608.01(b).
The disclosure is further objected to because of the following informalities: reference character “12” has been defined as a hydraulic system, a dotted line, components and a field. However, each reference character should only be defined using one single term throughout the entirety of the Specification.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Objections
Claims 1, 3, 4, 7, are 10-13 are objected to because of the following informalities: in claim 1, lines 9-10 should likely be amended to recite --connected in the second pipe, and is configured to[[;]]:--. In claim 3, line 3 should likely be amended to recite --arranged [[to]]in the third pipe--. In claim 4, line 2 should likely be amended to recite --arranged [[to]]in the second pipe--. In claim 7, lines 2-3 should likely be amended to recite --with a varying regulation characteristic-- and line 6 should likely be amended to recite --in [[an]]the intermediate transition area--. In claim 10, the second to last line should likely be amended to recite --[[the ]]entirely open--. Claims 11 and 12 should be amended to begin with --The timber--. In claim 13, lines 9-10 should likely be amended to recite --arranged [[to]]in the second pipe and is configured to[[;]]:-- and the third to last line on page -6- should likely be amended to end with --and--.
Appropriate correction is required.
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.
Claims 1-12 and 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the degree" in the second to last like pf page -3-. Claim 4 recites the limitation "the indicated amount of fluid flow" in line 6 and the limitation “the degree” in the second to last line. Claim 9 recites the limitation "the pump feed pressure ratio" in line 3. Claim 14 recites the limitation "the 0.3-0.1 interval" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for these limitations in the claims. Consequently, claims 2, 3, 5-8 and 10-12 are also rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite since they depend from claim 1.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 13 is allowed.
Claim 1 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.
Claims 2-12 and 14 would be allowable if rewritten 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 and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Asikainen (EP 3 404 272 A1) teaches a timber grip 200 comprising:
a hydraulic cylinder 6 for actuating the timber grip [0031], [0042], and
a hydraulic system 55, comprising:
a first pipe 38 connected to a plus side 13 of the hydraulic cylinder, and
a second pipe 37 connected to a minus side 11 of the hydraulic cylinder, wherein the hydraulic system comprises:
a third pipe (unlabeled line in FIG 1 from 10 to 39), which results in a regenerative fluid flow from the hydraulic cylinder's minus side to the plus side,
a pressure-sensing valve 39, which is arranged to the second pipe and is configured to;
drive in a first operating condition,
receive a pressure indication, indicating a pump feed pressure (P) on the hydraulic cylinder's plus side, and
determine whether the pump feed pressure (P) exceeds a first operating condition threshold value (Z1), and, if so, drive in a second operating condition [0033].
Asikainen does not specifically teach a timber grip, comprising a pressure-sensing valve configured to:
drive in a first operating condition, in which the pressure-sensing valve is closed and the fluid flow from the minus side to the plus side of the hydraulic cylinder is directed via said third pipe,
determine whether the pump feed pressure (P) exceeds a first operating condition threshold value (Z1), and, if so, drive in a second operating condition in which the pressure-sensing valve is open and fluid flow from the minus side of the hydraulic cylinder is intended to be directed to a tank,
determine whether the pump feed pressure (P) exceeds a second operating condition threshold value (Z2) and, if so, completely open said pressure-sensing valve,
as long as the pump feed pressure (P) exceeds the first operating condition threshold value (Z1), but is below the second operating condition threshold value (Z2) obtain a permanently gradually decreasing regenerative operating duration (RD) based on a pre-selected pump feed pressure relationship (xP) between the first operating condition threshold value (Z1) and the second operating condition threshold value (Z2), being below 0.5 (<0.5).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Asikainen (EP 3 097 772 B1) also teaches a timber grip system 100 comprising a hydraulic system [0012] comprising plus and minus sides [0021]-[0023]. Williams et al. (US 8,257,007 B2) also teaches a timber handling vehicle comprising a crane 910 with grips for loading logs into a load compartment 321 (column 13, lines 31-46).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CATHERINE A LOIKITH whose telephone number is (571)270-7822. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9am-5:30pm.
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, Doug Hutton can be reached at 571-272-4137. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Catherine Loikith/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3674
06 March 2026