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 .
PRODUCT BY PROCESS CLAIM:
“ The subject matter present is regarded as a product by process claim in which a product is introduced by the method in which it is made. It is the general practice of this office to examine the final product described regardless of the method provided by the applicant.”
The limitation to “ rolled” is treated accordingly to the office policy set forth above.
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) 1-20 are is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Houseman (WO97/43500).
Houseman figures 1-3, shows a bearing bar comprising: a rolled member(10) adapted for use in a metal grating to support a plurality of crossbars, said rolled member having: a first region and a second region located opposite one another(figure 2, the regions of 31 and 32); a third region(where 36 is) extending between the first region and the second region; a first corner and a second corner(the corners marked by the end of DE) provided where the first region transitions to the third region; a third corner and a fourth corner provided where the second region transitions to the third region(on the other side of X); wherein the rolled member has an area moment of inertia equal to or
greater than an area moment of inertia of an industry standard metal grating bearing bar
of rectangular cross section and having similar dimensions to the rolled member(inherently so as it shows the claimed structural limitations and the standard is not yet clearly set forth; furthermore, see figure 3); and wherein the rolled member has a section modulus equal to or greater than a section modulus of the industry standard metal grating bearing bar(inherently so as it shows the claimed structural limitations and the standard is not yet clearly set forth).
Per claim 2, Houseman further shows the third corner is opposite the first
corner and the fourth corner are opposite the second corner.
Per claim 3, Houseman further shows the first corner, the second corner,
the third corner, and the fourth corner are each greater than 90 degrees.
Per claim 4, Houseman further shows when the rolled member is of a
width of about 1 inch, the area moment of inertia of the rolled member is about
0.0154 inches⁴ relative to the area moment of inertia of the industry standard
metal grating bearing bar of about 0.0142 inches⁴; and the section modulus of
the rolled member is about 0.0292 inches³ relative to the section modulus of
the industry standard metal grating bearing bar of about 0.0289 inches³ (inherently so as it shows the claimed structural limitations and the standard is not yet clearly set forth).
Per claim 5, Houseman further shows when the rolled member is of a
width of about 1 ¼ inch, the area moment of inertia of the rolled member is
about 0.0303 inches⁴ relative to the area moment of inertia of the industry
standard metal grating bearing bar of about 0.028 inches⁴; and the section
modulus of the rolled member is about 0.046 inches³ relative to the section
modulus of the industry standard metal grating bearing bar of about 0.045
inches³(inherently so as it shows the claimed structural limitations and the standard is not yet clearly set forth).
Per claim 6, Houseman further shows when the rolled member is of a
width of about 1 ½ inch, the area moment of inertia of the rolled member is
about 0.0516 inches⁴ relative to the area moment of inertia of the industry
standard metal grating bearing bar of about 0.0486 inches⁴; and the section
modulus of the rolled member is about 0.066 inches³ relative to the section
modulus of the industry standard metal grating bearing bar of about 0.066
inches³(inherently so as it shows the claimed structural limitations and the standard is not yet clearly set forth).
Per claim 7, Houseman further shows the rolled member is symmetrical
about a midline(X) located equidistant between a first end of the first region and a
second end of the second region.
Per claim 8, Houseman further shows bearing bar has a weight reduction
of from about 11.89% up to about 33.88% compared to a corresponding
industry standard bearing bar (inherently so as it shows the claimed structural limitations and the standard is not yet clearly set forth).
Per claim 9, Houseman further shows the first region and the second
region each comprises: an end(33 or 34); a first side section and a second side section opposite one another and extending outwardly from opposite sides of the end; and
a third side section and a fourth side section opposite one another and
extending outwardly at an angle from a respective one of the first side section and the
second side section (page 8 last paragraph).
Per claim 10, Houseman further shows the angle is equal to or greater than
five degrees and equal to or less than fifteen degrees(page 8 second and third paragraphs).
Per claim 11, Houseman(figure 2) further shows the first side section and the second side section are substantially equal in height with one another, and wherein the
third side section and the fourth side section are substantially equal in height
with one another.
Per claim 12, Houseman further shows the first side section and the second
side section are substantially perpendicular to the end.
Per claim 13, Houseman further shows the third region comprises:
a first side section and a second side section opposite one another and extending
between the first region and the second region; and wherein the first side section and the second side section of the third region are substantially parallel and equal in height to one another (page 8 last paragraph with….interconnected by a planar part…).
Per claim 14, Houseman further shows an end of the first region and an end of the second region are of a first width; wherein the first width is measured between a first side section and a second side section of the respective first region and second region;
wherein the third region is of a second width measured between a first side section
and a second side section of the third region, and wherein the second width is smaller than the first width (figure 2).
Per claim 15, Houseman further shows at least one channel(figure 1, where 12 goes into) defined in the rolled member, said at least one channel being configured to
receive a crossbar of the grating therein.
Per claim 16, Houseman further shows the at least one channel is defined
in a first end of the first region and extends for a distance inwardly into the first
region and towards the second region.
Per claim 17, Houseman further shows the at least one channel extends
from a first side section of the first region through to a second side section of
the first region.
Per claim 18, Houseman further shows a bearing bar for a metal grating comprising: a rolled (product by process limitation) member having a first end and a second end opposite one another and spaced a distance apart substantially equal to a first height; a third region extending between the first end and the second end;
wherein the first end and the second end are substantially equal in width to one
another and are of a first width; wherein the third region is spaced substantially equidistant from the first end and the second end; wherein the third region is of a second width and the second width is less than the first width; wherein the third region is connected to the first end via a side section which is oriented at an angle of more than 90 degrees relative to the third region; and wherein the third region is connected to the second end via another side section that is oriented at an angle of more than 90 degrees relative to the third region (see figure 2).
Per claim 19, Houseman further shows a first side and a second side opposite and substantially equal in height to one another and extending between the first end and the third region; and a third side and a fourth side opposite and substantially equal in height to one another and extending between the second end and the third region.
Per claim 20, Houseman further shows at least one channel (where 12 goes into)
defined in the rolled member, said at least one channel configured to receive a
crossbar of the grating therein.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The prior art shows different grating supports.
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/PHI D A/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3633
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