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 .
DETAILED ACTION
Examiner’s Comments
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
Column and line (or Paragraph Number) citations have been provided as a convenience for Applicants, but the entirety of each reference should be duly considered. Any recitation of a Figure element, e.g. “Figure 1, element T should be construed as inherently also reciting “and relevant disclosure thereto”.
Claim Objections
Claim 31 is objected to because of the following informalities: on line 1, the claim is recited to depend from canceled “claim 1” which should apparently be “claim 21” as that is the claim that recites the docking system. For the purposes of examination on the merits this claim will be treated as if dependent upon claim 21 instead. If this is incorrect applicant should make appropriate corrections in the next response.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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.
Claims 21-22, 24-28, and 31-36 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by KR 802.
For claim 21, KR 802 (KR 100439802) discloses a docking system for coupling a wheelchair (disclosed, not shown) having a coupling device (1, FIG.3) to a floor,
the docking system comprising:
a frame (10,30) holding a coupler mechanism (40), the coupler mechanism being configured to engage with the coupling device (1, see FIG.3);
an actuator (42, 20, FIG.1) coupled to the coupler mechanism,
wherein the actuator is configured to move the coupler mechanism relative to at least a portion of the frame (10,30) between a lowered position and a raised position;
PNG
media_image1.png
167
493
media_image1.png
Greyscale
a controller (50,60) programmed to receive a signal (from 60); and,
responsive to receipt of the signal, trigger the actuator to move the coupler mechanism toward the lowered position (right-hand-most side of FIG.3).
For claim 22, further comprising a control button (60) in communication with the controller (50), the control button being configured to generate the signal.
For claim 24, the frame has an upper portion (30) and a lower portion (10),
the coupler mechanism (40) being disposed on and moving with the upper portion between the lowered position and the raised position.
For claim 25, the signal is indicative of the coupler mechanism being engaged with the coupling device.
For claim 26, the coupler mechanism is adapted to exert downward pressure on the wheelchair as the coupler mechanism moves toward the lowered position.
For claim 27, the coupler mechanism is adapted to generate a clamping force as the coupler mechanism moves toward the lowered position.
For claim 28, the controller is programmed to trigger the actuator to move the coupler mechanism to a fully lowered position upon receipt of the signal (the hydraulic mechanism allows the coupler mechanism (40) to adjust its length and height until the axle (1) is engaged and “pulled downward”).
For claims 31-36, KR 802 inherent discloses the recited method.
Claims 21-28 and 31-38 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) or (2) as being anticipated by Lazaroff (4805954).
For claim 21, Lazaroff discloses a docking system for coupling a wheelchair (11) having a coupling device (22) to a floor,
the docking system comprising:
a frame (FIGS.6 and 11-12) holding a coupler mechanism (40,18), the coupler mechanism being configured to engage with the coupling device (22);
an actuator (20, FIGS. 11-12) coupled to the coupler mechanism,
wherein the actuator is configured to move the coupler mechanism relative to at least a portion of the frame between a lowered position (FIG.11) and a raised position (FIGS.6 and 12);
PNG
media_image2.png
240
272
media_image2.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image3.png
328
382
media_image3.png
Greyscale
a controller (82) programmed to receive a signal; and,
responsive to receipt of the signal, trigger the actuator to move the coupler mechanism toward the lowered position (FIG.11).
For claim 22, further comprising a control button (part of 82) in communication with the controller, the control button being configured to generate the signal.
For claim 23, further comprising a sensor (claim 3) configured to automatically generate the signal when the sensor detects that the coupler mechanism is engaged with the coupling device.
For claim 24, the frame has an upper portion (FIG.11) and a lower portion (FIG.11),
the coupler mechanism (40) being disposed on and moving with the upper portion between the lowered position and the raised position.
For claim 25, the signal is indicative of the coupler mechanism being engaged with the coupling device (claim 3).
For claim 26, the coupler mechanism is adapted to exert downward pressure on the wheelchair as the coupler mechanism moves toward the lowered position.
For claim 27, the coupler mechanism is adapted to generate a clamping force as the coupler mechanism moves toward the lowered position.
For claim 28, the controller is programmed to trigger the actuator to move the coupler mechanism to a fully lowered position upon receipt of the signal (from switch 82).
For claims 31-38, Lazaroff inherent discloses the recited method.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 29-30 and 39-40 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The primary reason for the indication of allowable subject matter for the claims in this application is the inclusion of the specific the controller is further configured to:
receive a height signal indicative of a height of the coupling device; and,
based on the height signal, trigger the actuator to move the coupler mechanism toward the raised position before receiving the coupling device in engagement with the coupler mechanism,
whereby the coupler mechanism is moved to the height of the coupling device; and the corresponding method, in combination with the other elements recited, which is not found in the prior art of record.
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 HILARY L GUTMAN whose telephone number is 571.272.6662. 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, VIVEK KOPPIKAR can be reached on 571.272.5109. 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 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. Should you have questions, 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.
/HILARY L GUTMAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3612B
Prosecution Insights