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 § 112
Claims 3,9,15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Regarding Claims 3,9,15 the phrase “maximum permissible travel distance of an elevator or a maximum permissible speed” is vague and indefinite. It is not clear as to what the metes and bounds of “maximum permissible” is. Correction is required.
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) 1,7,13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being fully met (to the extent understood) by Rogers et al (USPGP 20150191327).
Regarding Claims 1,7,13 Rogers discloses a device for implementing an elevator safety function, comprising:
a primary braking device (mechanical brake, para. 0035) configured to perform a holding brake operation when being de-energized (shorted, para. 0028);
an auxiliary braking device (dynamic braking, para. 0035) configured to perform a holding brake operation when being de-energized (shorted, para. 0028);
a safety function control unit 120 selectively coupled with an elevator motor 102 and configured to determine whether to activate the auxiliary braking device based on magnitude of back electromotive force of the elevator motor (threshold of sensed signal, para. 0032); and
a switching device 130, 132, 134 configured to couple the elevator motor with the safety function control unit after the primary braking device is de-energized.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3,9,15 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Claims 2,4-6,8,10-12,14,16-18 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.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The references cited show related teachings in the art.
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JEFFREY . DONELS
Examiner
Art Unit 2837
/JEFFREY DONELS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2837
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