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
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) 5 and 7-11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US Patent 1,807,881 to Siskin.
5. A gear type pull-out table comprising: a table frame (4); a first table board (5) and a second table board (6) symmetrically disposed on the table frame; an extended table board (16,17) disposed between the first table board and the second table board, wherein the extended table board is configured as a self-rotating turnover table board (16,17), and wherein the self-rotating turnover table board is further configured to rotate around a central longitudinal axis (15) of the gear type pull-out table; and a single gear assembly (9, 8) fixed to an inner frame (as best seen in figure 1; longitudinal frame piece that the gear is on top of as best seen in figures 1 and 2) of the table frame.
7. further comprising: a chute (notch in the longitudinal frame member that) disposed on one side of the table frame, proximal to the single gear assembly; and a slider (lower flange of the toothed rack that slides inside of the notch as best seen in figure 3) disposed on a bottom surface (as best seen in figure 1 and 3) of each of the first table board and the second table board, wherein the slider is configured to move back and forth along the chute to match the movement of the single gear assembly, thereby driving the first table board and the second table board to be one of joined and separated.
8. wherein the single gear assembly comprises: a first toothed rack (8) fixed to the first table board; a second toothed rack (8) fixed to the second table board; and a single gear (9) in synchronous engagement with the first toothed rack and the second toothed rack, wherein the first toothed rack and the second toothed rack are disposed in parallel on two sides of the single gear, and wherein the first table board and the second table board are driven to move in opposite directions through the synchronous engagement of the first toothed rack, the second toothed rack, and the single gear to one of join and separate the first table board and the second table board (as best seen in figure 1 ) .
9. wherein the self- rotating turnover table board flips from a first position (Fig 3) to a second position (Fig 2) or vice-versa when rotated around the central longitudinal axis of the gear type pull-out table.
10. wherein in the first position of the self-rotating turnover table board, the self-rotating turnover table board is positioned in between the first table board and the second table board and connects the first table board and the second table board that are separated from each other.
11. wherein in the second position of the self-rotating turnover table board, the self-rotating turnover table board is positioned below the first table board and the second table board that are joined to each other.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 6/26/2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. The applicant argues that the rotation axis (15) of the board of Siskin is not the central longitudinal axis. The examiner disagrees since the central longitudinal axis is not defined by any structure of the table and the examiner considers that the axis (15) of Siskin is centrally (within the middle portion or middle 50 percent of the width) of the table. Furthermore, there is nothing in applicant’s original disclosure or the current claims that the central longitudinal axis bisects the width of the table so to be perfectly aligned in the center.
The applicant argues that the board of Siskin is not a self-rotating turnover board. The examiner disagrees since as best understood a “self-rotating” board is a board that is biased (via gravity, spring, etc.) at some point in the operation/rotation. The examiner considers that since the board of Siskin is not balanced about the axis then gravity would bias the board in portions of the operations and therefore be the board would be “self-rotating”.
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 TIMOTHY MICHAEL AYRES whose telephone number is (571)272-8299. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 11:30-8.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Dan Troy can be reached at (571) 270-3742. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/T.M.A/ Examiner, Art Unit 3637 /DANIEL J TROY/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3637