DETAILED ACTION
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.
Claims 1-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Bennett (US 5573360)
Regarding claim 1, Bennett discloses a latching mechanism attached to a pallet (40) to retain the pallet on a support having a keeper (32) (figs 1-10), comprising: a base member (46) configured for attachment to a bottom rail (61) of a pallet; a bolt (53) movably mounted to said base member (figs 1-10, col 2 lines 55-67), movable substantially horizontally between a latching position in the keeper and an unlatching position outside the keeper (figs 1-10, col 2 lines 55-67, col 4 lines 18-25); a spring (56) for urging said bolt to the latching position thereof (col 2 lines 55-67, figs 1-10), an actuator (60) movable substantially upwardly and substantially downwardly (figs 5-6), a link (70) mounted for rotation about a fixed point (figs 1-10), a slot (72) in said link and a pin (76) passing therethrough and attached to said bolt for coupling said bolt to said link (figs 1-10), said actuator coupled to said link (figs 1-10), said actuator comprises a plate (62) for being engaged by the fork of a lift truck for moving said actuator substantially upwardly to move said bolt to the unlatching position thereof (Col 3 lines 15-20).
Regarding claim 2, Bennett further discloses that said bolt has a yolk-shaped end (fig 4), said yolk-shaped end receiving said link and said pin passing through said yolk- shaped end and said link (figs 1-10).
Regarding claim 3, Bennett further discloses that said plate is slightly inclined (fig 5).
Regarding claim 4, Bennett further discloses said actuator has an inclined surface (surface of 62, figs 5-6).
Regarding claim 5, Bennett further discloses that said link includes a plate (70) of generally triangular shape having three corners (figs 1-10), said fixed point being adjacent to one of said corners (figs 1-10), said slot adjacent to a second of said corners and said actuator being coupled adjacent to a third of said corners (figs 1-10).
Regarding claim 6, Bennett further discloses a latching mechanism assembly for mounting to a pallet (40) to retain the pallet on a support having a keeper (32) (figs 1-10), comprising: a base member (46, 51, 52, 55) configured to fit within a bottom channel (45, bottom channel shaped, col 3 lines 46-54) of a pallet (40) (figs 1-10); a bolt (53) movably mounted to the base member and movable substantially horizontally between a latching position in the keeper and an unlatching position outside the keeper (figs 1-10, col 2 lines 55-67, col 4 lines 18-25), a spring (56) for urging said bolt to the latching position thereof (col 2 lines 55-67, figs 1-10), an actuator (60) for being engaged by the fork of a lift truck for moving said actuator substantially upwardly to move said bolt to the unlatching position thereof (figs 1-10, Col 3 lines 15-20).
Regarding claim 7, Bennett further discloses that said base member is channel shaped (figs 1-10) and comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart walls (walls created by 51, 52, 55) fixed to the base member within the channel shape of said base member (figs 1-10), each wall having a hole (see holes formed by 51, 52, 55, fig 7), the holes being in longitudinal registry, said bolt guided for horizontal movement by being movable in said holes (figs 1-10).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DANY E AKAKPO whose telephone number is (469)295-9255. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9am - 5pm.
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/DANY E AKAKPO/Examiner, Art Unit 3672
1/20/2026
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