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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant's election with traverse of species B in the reply filed on 1/15/26 is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) that the structural differences are common variants of mounting connections. This is not found persuasive because the mounting connections are positively recited and would create a burdensome examination.
The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL.
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, 2, 5-12, and 14-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Apland (US 10,773,561 B2).
With respect to claim 1, Apland discloses a vehicle jack system comprising a mounting member 26 adapted to be releasably mount to a vehicle, and a receiver assembly 38 able to move in a range of directions (up, down) relative to the vehicle and able to receive and secure a jack 32, as shown in figure 5.
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With respect to claim 2, said mounting member is adapted to be releasably connected to a mounting adapter or hitch of said vehicle, as shown in figure 5.
With respect to claim 5, said receiver assembly includes a channel member 38, as shown in figure 5.
With respect to claim 6, said channel member is moveable about either side of the mounting member, specifically, pins 40 can be removed and the channel can slide or pivot about a single pin, as shown in figure 5.
With respect to claim 7, said channel member is affixed to a bracket 24 of the mounting member for receiving an adapter of a vehicle, as shown in figure 5.
With respect to claim 8, said mounting member is inherently moveable relative to the adapter as it is releasable.
With respect to claim 9, said channel is perpendicular to a plane of the mounting member, as shown in figure 5.
With respect to claims 10-12, said channel member is pivotable about a first pivot member or pin 40, said receiver being a sleeve member 26 able to receive the track of a trail jack 32, as shown in figure 3.
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With respect to claims 14 and 15, said receiver is adjustable to place the trail jack in a number of various elevations and positions.
With respect to claim 16, the kit recited in this claim, specifically the mounting member, channel member, securing means or bracket, and sleeve member have been addressed in the rejection of claims 1, 5, 7, and 12 above.
With respect to method claim 17, the method steps recited in this claim are inherently performed in the assembly of the jack attachment system of Apland described above in the rejection of claims 1, 2, 5-12, 14, and 15, specifically, the connecting of the mounting member, channel member, and sleeve member.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 13 is 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.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JEFFREY J RESTIFO whose telephone number is (571)272-6697. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 11am-8pm.
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JEFFREY J. RESTIFO
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3613
/JEFFREY J RESTIFO/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3613
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