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 without traverse of Invention I, claims 1-16 drawn to an apparatus, in the reply filed on 09-09-2025 is acknowledged.
Non-elected claims 17-20 were canceled by the applicant in the reply filed 09-09-2025.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 13 and 14 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.
In claim 13, line 2, “the surface” lacks antecedent basis. It is noted a “surface” of the landing pad is introduced in claim 10, lines 3-4.
It is unclear if the “substantially co-planar” relationship recited in claim 13 is referencing and/or further defines “the door panel configured to form a portion of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) landing pad” previously recited in claim 9, lines 13-14.
The following changes would receive favorable consideration:
Claim 13. (Proposed Amendment) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the door panel is substantially co-planar with [[the]] a surface of the UAV landing pad while the door panel is in the closed position to form the portion of the UAV landing pad.
In claim 14, lines 2-3, “the surface” lacks antecedent basis. It is noted a “surface” of the landing pad is introduced in claim 10, lines 3-4.
The following changes would receive favorable consideration:
Claim 14. (Proposed Amendment) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first protrusion is shorter in length than the second protrusion such that the first protrusion can be lowered vertically beneath [[the]] a surface of the UAV landing pad to lower a first side portion of the door panel before the second protrusion is moved with respect to the second channel to lower a second side portion of the door panel opposite the first side portion beneath the surface of the UAV landing pad.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-12, 15, and 16 are allowed.
Claims 13 and 14 would be allowable if rewritten or amended 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Regarding claim 1, Walsh et al. (US#11066186) represents the closest prior art of record and discloses in Figs. 33A-B an apparatus comprising: a UAV landing pad 400; a cooperating door panel 460 slidably coupled to an inherent stationary track/rail (col. 18, lines 7-11, “tambour door” requiring an inherent stationary track(s)/rail(s)); the door panel having an upper surface which is “substantially” coplanar with the upper surface of the landing pad to form a portion thereof when the door is in a closed first position (Fig. 33A); and the door panel in an open second position being lower than the upper surface of the UAV landing pad and laterally offset with respect to the first position such that an opening in the UAV landing pad is exposed, the opening configured to permit a package to be passed therethrough (Fig. 33B). However, Walsh and remaining prior art of record fails to disclose or suggest the collective following: the stationary rail including a first channel and a second channel, at least a portion of the first channel located above at least a portion of the second channel; the door panel slidingly movable with respect to the first channel and the second channel from the first position with respect to the stationary rail to the second position with respect to the stationary rail different from the first position.
Likewise, regarding claim 9, Walsh and the remaining prior art of record fails to disclose or suggest first and second channels of the rail in structural and functional cooperation with first and second protrusions of the door panel as claimed in detail.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See PTO-892.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to WILLIAM L MILLER whose telephone number is (571)272-7068. The examiner can normally be reached 9:30 - 6:00 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jason San can be reached at (571) 272-6531. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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WILLIAM L. MILLER
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3677
/WILLIAM L MILLER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3677