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
Claims 1-5,7-11 are pending. Applicant's arguments (Remarks) filed 30 July 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Cavasinni teaches the newly amended claim limitations: a plurality of attachment points fixedly attaching the substrate to the rail a wherein a window of movement of the variable suspension point is provided along the rail in the axial direction and defined between adjacent attachment points of the plurality of attachment points (Replacing previous attachment points 34 with end caps 60: 60 contributes to attaching substrate F to rail 12 and having window of movement 16 along rail 12 between each 60; Para. 0116; Fig. 8C-8D,10). Due to amendment, previous, the rejection has been updated.
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) 1-2,4-5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Cavasinni (US 2022/0074203 A1).
Regarding Claim 1, Cavasinni discloses a suspension system (Para. 0094,0104; Fig. 1A-B,8A-D) comprising:
a substrate comprising a horizontal portion extending in an axial direction (Substrate F; Para. 0114; Fig. 8A-D);
a rail extending in the axial direction disposed on a top face of the horizontal portion of the substrate (Rail 12 on top face of substrate F; Para. 0114-0116; Fig. 8A-D);
a plurality of attachment points fixedly attaching the substrate to the rail (60 contributes to attaching substrate F to rail 12; Para. 0116; Fig. 8C-D,9); and
a variable suspension point slidably attached to the rail and having a suspension wire extending therefrom configured to be attached to an anchor point for the suspension system (Variable suspension point 50 attached to rail 12 having suspension wire 54; Para. 0104; Fig. 11),
wherein a window of movement of the variable suspension point is provided along the rail and defined between adjacent attachment points of the plurality of attachment points (Window 16 of movement of variable suspension point 50 along between each 60; Para. 0116; Fig. 8C-8D,10); and
wherein the substrate is suspended from the anchor point through the variable suspension point and the suspension wire (Substrate F suspended from anchor points 34 through variable suspension point 50 and suspension wire 54; Fig. 8A,11).
Regarding Claim 2, Cavasinni discloses the suspension system of claim 1, wherein the substrate is made from a sew-able fibrous material (Panels made of polyester/wool fiber materials known to be sewable; Para. 0117).
Regarding Claim 4, Cavasinni discloses the suspension system of claim 1, wherein the rail comprises a rail shaft raceway forming a cavity running axially along a length of the rail (Rail 12 with raceway 16; Para. 0106; Fig. 9); wherein the variable suspension point comprises a suspension bearing slidably disposed within the rail shaft raceway (Bearing 59 within raceway 16; Para. 0106; Fig. 11,16).
Regarding Claim 5, Cavasinni discloses the suspension system of claim 4, wherein the variable suspension point comprises a suspension body attached to the suspension bearing at a first end of the suspension body (Suspension body 55 attached to bearing 59 at first end 57; Para. 0106; Fig. 16); and
wherein the variable suspension point comprises the suspension wire attached to the suspension body at a second end of the suspension body (Suspension wire 54 attached to suspension body 55 at second end 52; Fig. 16).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim(s) 3,7-11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Cavasinni (US 2022/0074203 A1) in view of Geer (US 10,883,266 B2).
Regarding Claim 3, Cavasinni discloses the suspension system of claim 1. Cavasinni fails to explicitly disclose wherein the one or more attachment points (60 Fig. 8C-8D) are fiber-reinforced adhesive strips or adhesive-less strips. However, Geer teaches wherein the one or more attachment points are fiber-reinforced adhesive strips or adhesive-less strips (Geer: Attachment points 30 comprise webbing strap; Col. 7, Lines 50-67; Col. 8, Lines 1-10; Fig. 4-7). Geer and Cavasinni are in similar fields comprising suspended panels. Modifying Cavasinni with teachings of Geer would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention wherein the one or more attachment points are fiber-reinforced adhesive strips or adhesive-less strips for the purpose of distributing weight of the suspension system while securing mounting elements (Geer: Col. 9, Lines 1-30).
Regarding Claim 7, please note the rejection as set forth above with respect to Claim 1. Claim 7 is rejected for similar reasons as claim 1 and additionally Cavasinni discloses an acoustic control structure comprising of the suspension system (Para. 0094,0104; Fig. 1A-B); a first sound dampening panel; and a second sound dampening panel (Alternative embodiment in Fig. 21-22 showing additional panels 140,142; Para. 0154,0159. Panels having acoustic properties; Para. 0001-0002).
Cavasinni fails to explicitly a first sound dampening panel; a second sound dampening panel; the first sound dampening panel, the second sound dampening panel, and the substrate (140, 142, F; Fig. 8A,21) are sewn together; and wherein the first sound dampening panel, the second sound dampening panel are suspended from the anchor point through the variable suspension point and the suspension wire. However, Geer teaches a first sound dampening panel; and a second sound dampening panel, and wherein the first sound dampening panel, the second sound dampening panel, and the substrate are sewn together (Geer’s cover 20 comprising acoustic panels 21/23 sewn around fiberglass substate; Col. 12, Lines 5-40; Fig. 2-3,7; and wherein the first sound dampening panel, the second sound dampening panel are suspended from the anchor point through the variable suspension point and the suspension wire (Follows as 20 is suspended through the same anchor point 30). Geer and Cavasinni are in similar fields comprising suspended panels. Modifying Cavasinni with teachings of Geer would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention wherein the first sound dampening panel, the second sound dampening panel, and the substrate are sewn together and wherein the first sound dampening panel, the second sound dampening panel are suspended from the anchor point through the variable suspension point and the suspension wire for the purpose of varying frequency absorption and encasing sound absorbent material in a single structure (Geer: Col. 12, Lines 10-35).
Regarding Claims 8-11, please note the rejection as set forth above with respect to Claim 2-5. Claim 8-11 is rejected for similar reasons as claims 2-5, respectively.
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 JENNIFER B OLSON whose telephone number is (571)272-3041. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 8:00am -4:00pm.
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/JENNIFER B OLSON/Examiner, Art Unit 2837
/DEDEI K HAMMOND/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2837
