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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
IDS filed 5/20/2024 and 7/28/2025 cite documents which require legible copy. The information disclosure statement filed 5/20/2024 and 7/28/2025 fail to comply with 37 CFR 1.98(a)(2), which requires a legible copy of each cited foreign patent document; each non-patent literature publication or that portion which caused it to be listed; and all other information or that portion which caused it to be listed. It has been placed in the application file, but the such cited documents referred to therein has not been considered.
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 9-10, 13-14, 16-17 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.
Claim 9: Claim 9 recites “a six pulley” and “a seventh pully”. However, the scope of the claim is indefinite because there is a lack of antecedent basis for “a second pulley”, “a third pulley”, “a fourth pulley” and “a fifth pulley”. For examination purposes, “wherein said lift mechanism further comprises a sixth pulley” is interpreted as --wherein said lift mechanism further comprises a second pulley, a third pulley, a fourth pulley, and a fifth pulley, a sixth pulley--.
Claim 13: Claim 13 recites “a fourth pulley” and “a fifth pulley”. However, the scope of the claim is indefinite because there is a lack of antecedent basis for “a second pulley” and “a third pulley”. For examination purposes, “wherein said lift mechanism further comprises a fourth pulley” is interpreted as --wherein said lift mechanism further comprises a second pulley, and a third pulley, a fourth pulley--.
Claim 16: Claim 16 recites “a fourth pulley” and “a fifth pulley”. However, the scope of the claim is indefinite because there is a lack of antecedent basis for “a second pulley” and “a third pulley”. For examination purposes, “wherein said lift mechanism further comprises a fourth pulley” is interpreted as --wherein said lift mechanism further comprises a second pulley, and a third pulley, a fourth pulley--.
Claims 10, 14, 17 are rejected as being dependent upon a rejected base claim.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-8, 11-12, 15, 18-20 are allowed.
Claims 9, 13, and 16 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 10, 14, and 17 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim (claims 9, 13, and 16 respectively), but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The subject matter of the independent claim(s) could either not be found or was not suggested in the prior art of record. The subject matter of independent claim 1 not found was a use of a scissor mechanism and a lift mechanism coupled to said base and said platform, said lift mechanism comprising a first linkage and a first pulley, a cable extending from a drive mechanism and fixed relative to said platform support; in combination with the limitations set forth in claim 1 of the instant invention.
None of the prior arts of record considered as a whole, alone or in combination, teaches or renders obvious the allowable subject matter of the instant invention.
The closest prior art, Kishi (5,111,907) teaches a similar lift assembly (fig1) comprising: a base 1 (col.3 line45); a platform 16 (col.4 line10-11) moveable relative to said base 1 between a raised position (fig1) and a lowered position (fig2); a lift mechanism 14 (col.4 lines1-8) coupled to said base 1 and said platform 16 to move said platform 16 to said raised position (fig1), said lift mechanism 14 comprising: a base support 10 (col.4 line6) mounted to said base 1 and extending from said base 1 toward said platform 16 (fig1); a platform support 13 (col.4 line4) mounted to said platform 16 and extending from said platform 16 toward said base 1 (fig1); a first linkage 12 (col.4 line2) supported by said base support 10 and coupled to said platform support 13 (fig1); and a first pulley 63 (fig10, col.6 line32-33) supported by said first linkage 12 (fig10); a drive mechanism 6 (col.3 lines54-55) supported by said base 1 (figs1-2); and a cable 67 (col.6 line40-41) extending from said drive mechanism 6 (fig10), wrapped at least partially around said first pulley 63 (fig10, col.6 lines40-41); wherein said cable 67 is configured to be tensioned by said drive mechanism 6 such that said lift mechanism 14 moves said platform 16 to said raised position (figs1,10, col.6 lines66-68). Although the prior art of record teaches a similar lift assembly, there is no teaching in the prior art of record that would, reasonably and absent impermissible hindsight, motivate one having ordinary skill in the art to modify Kishi to use a scissor mechanism coupled to said base and to said platform to move said platform relative to said base; in combination with the limitations set forth in claim 1 of the instant invention. Having a scissor mechanism would teach away since the scissor mechanism would prevent the platform to be completely lowered as seen in fig 2. Thus, for at least the foregoing reasons, the prior art of record neither anticipates nor rendered obvious the present invention as set forth in the independent claim 1.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Bacon et al (US 2024/0084878 A1), Bacon et al (US 2023/0382698 A1), Ooe (US 2019/0047832 A1), and Coad et al (3,785,462) teach similar lift assemblies, however, none of the prior arts of record considered as a whole, alone or in combination, teaches or renders obvious the allowable subject matter of the instant invention.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Seahee Hong whose telephone number is (571)270-5778. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th 8am-4pm ET.
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/SEAHEE HONG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3723