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 § 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 1-19 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.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "a protrusion direction" in Line 8. However, it is indefinite and unclear as to how the “protrusion direction” in line 8 relates to the previously recited “a protruding direction” as recited in line 3 of claim 1? I.e., are they the same or different limitations?
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1 and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by U.S. Patent No. 10,279,484 (Birglen).
Regarding Claims 1 and 19, Birglen teaches: Claim 1 - a gripper comprising: a base unit (20); and a plurality of finger units (30, 40, 60 or 70) coupled to a protruding direction-side of the base unit (20); wherein each of the plurality of finger units (30, 40, 60 or 70) comprises a first link structure (such as 41, 46, 47) coupled to the base unit (20), a second link structure (33, 44, 63 or 74) rotatably coupled to the first link structure (such as 41, 46, 47), and a third link structure (such as 42, 43) rotatably coupled to both the first link structure (such as 41, 46, 47) and the second link structure (33, 44, 63 or 74); wherein the second link structure (33, 44, 63 or 74) comprises a finger tip (33, 44, 63 or 74); wherein when the finger unit (30, 40, 60 or 70) is pressed in a protrusion direction, the finger tip (33, 44, 63 or 74) is brought closer to the base unit (20) in the protrusion direction by the first link structure (such as 41, 46, 47); and wherein when the finger unit (30, 40, 60 or 70) is further pressed in the protrusion direction, and the finger tip (33, 44, 63 or 74) is rotated to be oriented in a direction opposite to the protruding direction in a state in which the finger tip (33, 44, 63 or 74) is oriented in a gripping direction that is a direction perpendicular to the protruding direction, (Figures 1-13); Claim 19 - wherein points, at which a link tip of the first link structure (such as 41, 46, 47) rotatably coupled to the finger tip (33, 44, 63 or 74) is located, are arranged on a straight line, (Figures 1-13).
Claim(s) 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by KR 20230035292 (Kim et al.).
Regarding Claim 1, Kim et al. teaches: Claim 1 - a gripper comprising: a base unit (2000); and a plurality of finger units (1100, 1200) coupled to a protruding direction-side of the base unit (2000); wherein each of the plurality of finger units (1100, 1200) comprises a first link structure (200) coupled to the base unit (2000), a second link structure (100) rotatably coupled to the first link structure (200), and a third link structure (300) rotatably coupled to both the first link structure (200) and the second link structure (100); wherein the second link structure (100) comprises a finger tip (100); wherein when the finger unit (1100, 1200) is pressed in a protrusion direction, the finger tip (100) is brought closer to the base unit (2000) in the protrusion direction by the first link structure (200); and wherein when the finger unit (1100, 1200) is further pressed in the protrusion direction, and the finger tip (100) is rotated to be oriented in a direction opposite to the protruding direction in a state in which the finger tip (100) is oriented in a gripping direction that is a direction perpendicular to the protruding direction, (Figures 1-12).
Claim(s) 1 and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by CN 107053242 (Dai).
Regarding Claims 1 and 19, Dai teaches: Claim 1 - a gripper comprising: a base unit (AA); and a plurality of finger units (BB) coupled to a protruding direction-side of the base unit (AA); wherein each of the plurality of finger units (BB) comprises a first link structure (CC) coupled to the base unit (AA), a second link structure (DD) rotatably coupled to the first link structure (CC), and a third link structure (EE) rotatably coupled to both the first link structure (CC) and the second link structure (DD); wherein the second link structure (DD) comprises a finger tip (DD); wherein when the finger unit (BB) is pressed in a protrusion direction, the finger tip (DD) is brought closer to the base unit (AA) in the protrusion direction by the first link structure (CC); and wherein when the finger unit (BB) is further pressed in the protrusion direction, and the finger tip (DD) is rotated to be oriented in a direction opposite to the protruding direction in a state in which the finger tip (DD) is oriented in a gripping direction that is a direction perpendicular to the protruding direction, (Figures 1-11 and Annotated Figure 1 Below); Claim 19 - wherein points, at which a link tip of the first link structure (CC) rotatably coupled to the finger tip (DD) is located, are arranged on a straight line, (Figures 1-11 and Annotated Figure 1 Below).
PNG
media_image1.png
715
665
media_image1.png
Greyscale
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-18 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
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Josh Rodden whose telephone number is (303) 297-4258. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F, 8-5 MST.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Joshua Michener can be reached on (571) 272-1467. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free).
If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/JOSHUA E RODDEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3642
Prosecution Insights