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 .
Drawings
New corrected drawings in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in this application because certain limitations listed . Applicant is advised to employ the services of a competent patent draftsperson outside the Office, as the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office no longer prepares new drawings. The corrected drawings are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. The requirement for corrected drawings will not be held in abeyance.
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the “mounting cavity”, “protrusion(s)”, “first connecting bracket”, “snap-fit groove”, “snap-fit structure”, and “a toothed portion” must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyances.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 1-10 and 20 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
Re Claim 1, there is no explicit reference in the original disclosure to support the following limitations: “a mounting cavity”, “protrusion(s)”, “the first connecting bracket”. There needs to be reference numerals and lines correlating to at least one drawing.
Claims 2-10 rejected by virtue of dependency on Claim 1.
Re Claim 20, there is no reference in the original disclosure to support the following limitations: “a snap-fit groove”, “the snap-fit structure”, “a toothed portion”.
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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 text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claim(s) 1, 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being clearly anticipated by Yikang Tong (CN Pub. App. 114642113), as applied in the prior Office action.
Re Claim 1, Tong discloses a grass trimmer (plant trimmer, abstract) comprising:
a machine head (machine head 102) comprising at least one electric motor ("the brush motor is electrified to work", embodiment 3), a grass trimmer head driven by the electric motor (cutting device 202, "to drive the first cutting device 103 to rotate", embodiment 3, Figs. 9-10), and a housing (housing 102a) for containing the electric motor; and
a base (102c) comprising a shell (102a or -b, as non-limiting examples) for supporting the machine head ("supported under the shell 102a", protective cover 102b, and 102c; Fig. 2); and
a trimming wheel device (either of 106) that assists in moving the grass trimmer head during trimming operations ("to support the plant trimmer, and can roll on the ground, which is convenient for moving the [trimmer]", trimming wheels 106); and
in addition, at least one tank wheel device (both or either of tank wheels 105) having a sled surface (105a) that assists in moving the grass trimmer head during mowing operations;
the tank wheel device and the trimming wheel device form a detachable connection to the base (It is understood by Fig. 2, for example.):
when trimming is required, the base is connected to the trimming wheel device (Fig. 2 as a nonlimiting example), when mowing is required, the tank wheel device replaces the connection between the trimming wheel device and the base (Both the tank wheel and trimming wheels can be removably attached to the trimmer bottom plate via a connecting rod 105b at a connection groove inserted in the mounting groove 102e, further mounted on the housing 102a);
the base is provided with a mounting cavity (102e), and the mounting cavity has first protrusions (102f) on opposite sides (the left and right ends of the entire apparatus as viewed from a top-down perpendicular angle) and a second protrusion (102d) at the bottom (the spaces that both 105 occupy relative 106 on both sides; note lack of antecedent basis.);
the trimming wheel device includes a first connecting frame (102c), with first receiving grooves (See annotated figure below.) on opposite sides of the first connecting frame that cooperate with the first protrusion, and a second receiving groove (See annotated figure below.) at the bottom of the first connecting frame that cooperates with the second protrusion,
wherein when the first connecting bracket (105b; please note lack of antecedent basis.) is inserted into the mounting cavity, the first protrusion is inserted into the first receiving groove (see annotated Fig. 2 below.; duly note lack of clarity with regards to which of the grooves is being referred to and thus, once again, lack of antecedent basis.), and the second protrusion is inserted into the second receiving groove to position the trimming wheel device on the base.
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Re. Claims 2-9, the rejections, as set forth from the Office Action mailed on 04/01/2026, are maintained, as Tong still discloses their unamended claimed subject matter. The findings and text of the previous rejection are incorporated herein by reference.
Re Claim 20, Tong discloses a grass trimmer (plant trimmer) comprising: a machine head (102) comprising at least one electric motor (“the battery pack 207 supplies power to the driving motor”), a grass trimmer head (103, cutting device 202) actuated by said electric motor (“the cutting part is fixed on the grass head of the motor to rotate at high speed”), and a housing for holding said electric motor (housing 102a); and a base (102c) comprising a shell (102b) for supporting the machine head (See Fig. 6.); and a moving mechanism (105, 106) removably attached to said base for supporting said grass trimmer head and for assisting in the movement of said grass trimmer head while said grass trimmer head is in operation (Both the tank wheel and trimming wheels can be removably attached to the trimmer bottom plate via a connecting rod 105b at a connection groove inserted in the mounting groove 102e, further mounted on the housing 102a); and a main handle (operating handle 104, main handle 203) removably attached to said machine head for holding said grass trimmer for operation (connecting sleeve 151) ; and said main handle comprising a connecting rod (111) and a handle (204, 104), said connecting rod being fixedly connected to said handle (see Fig. 1 or 11); and a secondary handle (108) detachably attached (when the reversing holding rod 111e, the movable gear ring 111f is embedded with the fixed gear ring 111b, and the jacket 111a close the outer rod 111, namely can fix the auxiliary handle 108 on the outer rod of the position and the auxiliary handle 108 and the outer rod 111 between the included angle) to said connecting rod for assisting said main handle in controlling said grass trimmer for operation; and said secondary handle comprising a connecting pipe (jacket 111a), an auxiliary handle (holding rod 111e), and an adjustment handle (screw rod 111c), said auxiliary handle being rotatably attached to said connecting pipe (“rotating holding rod 111e, the holding rod 111e rotates relative to the screw 111c, and drives the end part of the auxiliary handle 108 away from the end of the jacket 111a”), said adjustment handle being threaded through said auxiliary handle and against said connecting pipe (“other end of the screw [rod] 111c passes through the jacket 111a and is in threaded connection with a holding rod 111e”; “one end of the adjusting rod 131a close to the shell 102a is hinged on the adjusting ring 131 and is provided with a rear cam 131b; adjusting ring 131 extends out of one end of the outer rod 111 is fixed with a rear friction pad 131c, rear friction pad 131c and the rear cam 131b contact when the adjusting rod 131a rotates to its length direction parallel to the length direction of the outer rod 111, the cam after the rear friction pad 131c pressing, so that the back friction pad 131c clings to the inner rod 121, so as to limit the relative sliding between the adjusting ring 131 and the inner rod 121, so as to limit the relative sliding between the inner rod 121 and the outer rod 111; when the adjusting rod 131a rotates to its length direction and the length direction of the outer rod 111 are obliquely intersected”); and said connecting pipe having a generally cylindrical shaped inner wall surface, said inner wall surface defining a space, said space accommodating said connecting rod, said connecting pipe being further provided with an opening, said opening defining a passage for said main handle to enter said space (“Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 8, the inner rod 121 and the outer rod 111 are hollow rod, the cross section of the two at least has one arc side (hence “generally cylindrical”), and a straight line connected end to end, and the outer rod 111 close to one end of the shell 102a inserted into the inner rod 121 and the inner wall of the inner rod 121, the outer rod 111 sliding connected with the inner rod 121, so as to flexibly adjust the total length of the extending rod 101 according to the operation need, and not only ensures the strength of the extending rod 101, but also reduces the weight of the extending rod 101, convenient operation and use”), the connecting pipe is provided with a snap-fit groove (“Snap-fit” is a mere descriptor and is not positively set forth as recited, therefore said element is interpreted as a groove; every pipe is understood to inherently have atleast one groove through the pipe’s length.), and the snap-fit structure (111f and/or b; note recurring lack of antecedent basis.) includes a snap-fit ring (the hollow outer end of the disclosed outer rod 111) that snaps into the snap-fit groove (Fig. 8) to close or open the opening and restrict the movement of the connecting rod relative to the connecting pipe, said connecting pipe being further provided with a buckle structure (107c), said buckle structure being closable or openable to said opening and restricting the displacement of said main handle entering said space (“one end of the movable cover plate 107b away from the storage shell 107a is provided with a buckle 107c, the buckle 107c is plastic, piece is provided with an opening 107d, at the same time, the storage shell 107a outer surface is provided with a bump 107e, when the movable cover plate 107b is rotated to the closed position, the bump 107e is embedded in the opening 107d, so that the movable cover plate 107b is kept in the closed position, preventing the second cutting device in the storage space from dropping out”), said connecting pipe being further provided with an angle adjustment mechanism (recited as a gear in one embodiment, movable gear ring 111f, fixed gear ring 111b) for adjusting the angle between said auxiliary handle and said adjustment handle and said connecting pipe (“two ends respectively the auxiliary handle 108 are sleeved on the screw rod 111c and the handle; and the end part of the auxiliary handle 108 is provided with a movable gear ring 111f, when the forward rotating holding rod 111e, the holding rod 111e rotates relative to the screw 111c, and drives the end part of the auxiliary handle 108 away from the end of the jacket 111a, the movable gear ring 111f is away from the fixed gear ring 111b. at this time, it can rotate the auxiliary handle 108 to adjust the auxiliary handle 108 and the included angle between the outer rod 111, the jacket 111a and the outer rod 111 is loosened, the jacket 111a can slide on the outer rod 111, so as to adjust the auxiliary handle 108 on the outer rod of the position of 111, it is convenient to hold the auxiliary handle 108; when the reversing holding rod 111e, the movable gear ring 111f is embedded with the fixed gear ring 111b, and the jacket 111a close the outer rod 111, namely can fix the auxiliary handle 108 on the outer rod of the position and the auxiliary handle 108 and the outer rod 111 between the included angle.”); the angle adjustment mechanism includes a gear disposed on the connecting tube, and the adjustment handle is provided with a toothed portion corresponding to the gear, the toothed portion meshes with the gear to restrict the rotation of the auxiliary handle relative to the connecting tube, wherein when the adjustment handle is pulled up, the toothed portion moves away from the gear to allow the auxiliary handle to rotate relative to the connecting tube.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 11, 13-15, and allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: The prior art does not clearly disclose a grass trimmer comprising a moving mechanism ng part is provided with a locking structure at one end near the base, the locking structure includes a first main body part that can deform and a first hook part connected to the first main body part; the base is provided with a first cavity that cooperates with the locking structure and a first slot for the first hook to be inserted, a connecting strip is provided between the first cavity and the first slot, the first main body is formed with a slot for receiving the connecting strip, wherein when the first hook is inserted into the first slot, the connecting strip engages with the slot to detachably lock the connecting part to the base..
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
As allowable subject matter has been indicated, applicant's reply must either comply with all formal requirements or specifically traverse each requirement not complied with. See 37 CFR 1.111(b) and MPEP § 707.07(a).
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 replying 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.
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/Alicia Torres/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3671
/R.O.P./Examiner, Art Unit 3671
