DETAILED ACTION
The Information Disclosure Statements filed on May 24, 2023, February 2, 2024 and January 7, 2025 have all been reviewed and considered by the Examiner.
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) 1-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Cho et al (US 2022/0165598).
Cho et al discloses a transport apparatus comprised of a hoist device 140 configured to grip a material object 10 and a transport vehicle 104 coupled to the hoist device and configured to transport the hoist device, as shown in figures 1 and 2. The transport vehicle comprises a front driving device 120 comprising front wheels, a front drive shaft 124 transmitting a driving force to the front wheels 122, and a front vibration reduction device 182; and a rear driving device 130 comprising rear wheels 132, a rear drive shaft 134 transmitting a driving force to the rear wheels, and a rear vibration reduction device 184. When the transport vehicle moves in a straight section, the front vibration reduction device and the rear vibration reduction device are coupled to each other, and when the transport vehicle moves in a corner section, the front vibration reduction device and the rear vibration reduction device are separated from each other. The front vibration reduction device and the rear vibration reduction device are electromagnetically coupled to each other by way of a series of electromagnets 160, 170. The front vibration reduction device is located on a horizontal center line of the front driving device, and the rear vibration reduction device is located on a horizontal center line of the rear driving device, as shown at the top of figure 1. The transport vehicle further comprises a controller 150 configured to control the front vibration reduction device and the rear vibration reduction device based on a position of the transport vehicle.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Robert J McCarry Jr. whose telephone number is (571)272-6683. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7:00-3:00.
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, S. Joseph Morano can be reached at 571-272-6684. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/Robert J McCarry Jr/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3615
RJM
December 16, 2025
Prosecution Insights