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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to because figure 4 includes an arrow pointing towards the guardrail without a reference numeral.
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Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim(s) 1-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Richardson (WO 2013140149) in view of Brickell et al. (US 8,602,161) and Soeda (JP 2002326792).
Richardson discloses:
1. A lift device (10, figure 1, see below), comprising:
a base (12, figure 1, see below);
a mast assembly (16, figure 1, see below) including an inner mast section (20, figure 4) coupled to the base (figure 1) and an outer mast section (22, figure 4);
a platform assembly (18, figure 1, see below) coupled to the outer mast section (figure 1, see below);
a guardrail assembly (unnumbered guardrail assembly of platform 18, figure 1) coupled to the outer mast section (figure 1); and a
a crank assembly (figure 6, see below) including a drive gear (40, figure 6) that is rotatably coupled to a pulley assembly (figure 7, see below), wherein rotation of the pulley assembly is configured to move the outer mast section relative to the inner mast section (figure 7, 8 and 10).
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Richardson does not disclose a lift assist motor rotatably coupled to the drive gear and configured to selectively apply an assisting torque, or that the platform and guardrail assembly are pivotally coupled to the outer mast section.
However, Brickell teaches
a lift assist motor (20, figure 4) rotatably coupled to the drive gear (of 21) and configured to selectively apply an assisting torque on the drive gear to assist in raising the outer mast section, the platform assembly, and the guardrail assembly relative to the base (or in this case assist in the raising of climber 3 relative the ladder 2; system sensing climber ascending and provides lifting assistance; figure 1; Abstract and col. 9, line 54-56).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide the lift device of Richardson with a lift assist motor, like that taught by Brickell, so as to further assist the user as they manually crank/raise the outer mast section relative to the inner mast section, creating a smoother lifting and lowering process. While Richardson does include gas struts for assistance, the lift device may at times require additional lifting assistance for heavier loads and/or in the event the glass struts are not operating at full assistance.
Additionally, Soeda teaches:
a platform assembly (50,53 figures 1 & 4, see below) pivotally coupled to the outer mast section (figure 4-5, see below); and
a guardrail assembly (54, 55, see below) pivotally coupled to the outer mast section (figure 4-5, see below).
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Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to construct the platform and guardrail assemblies of Richardson to be pivotally coupled to the outer mast section as taught by Soeda, so as to provide a more versatile lift device easily convertible to a compact configuration, allowing for easier storage and transportation from one work site to the next.
The combination of Richardson modified with the assist motor of Brickell, as advanced above would results in:
2. The lift device of claim 1, wherein the lift assist motor (of Brickell) is rotatably coupled to an outer gear (48 of Richardson, figure 6).
3. The lift device of claim 2, wherein the outer gear (48, Richardson) is rotatably fixed to the drive gear (Richardson figure 6).
4. The lift device of claim 3, wherein the outer gear (48 Richardson) is rotatably fixed to the drive gear (40 Richardson) by a handle (Richardson, 44 being part of the crank/handle assembly) that is rigidly coupled between the outer gear and the drive gear (figure 6, Richardson).
5. The lift device of claim 1, wherein the pulley assembly is rotatably coupled to the drive gear by a driven gear (Richardson figure 7).
6. The lift device of claim 1, further comprising a torque sensor and a controller in communication with the lift assist motor and the torque sensor (Soeda, col. 9, lines 48-56).
7. The lift device of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to detect, via the torque sensor, that the outer mast section (climber) is being raised and, in response, instruct the lift assist motor to generate the assisting torque (Soeda, col. 9, lines 48-56).
8. The lift device of claim 1, further comprising a support plate (Richardson figure 6) coupled to the outer mast section (figure 6), wherein the lift assist motor is mounted within the support plate (when in combination with Soeda the motor would be mounted adjacent the gears).
9. A lift device (10, figure 1, see below), comprising:
a base (12, figure 1, see below);
a mast assembly (16, figure 1, see below) including an inner mast section (20, figure 4) coupled to the base (figure 1) and an outer mast section (22, figure 4);
a platform assembly (18, figure 1, see below) coupled to the outer mast section (figure 1);
a guardrail assembly (unnumbered guardrail assembly of platform 18, figure 1) coupled to the outer mast section (figure 1, see below); and a
a crank assembly (figure 6, see below) including a handle (26,44, figure 6), a drive gear (40, figure 6), a driven gear (46), and a pulley assembly (figure 7), wherein the handle is rotatably affixed to the drive gear (figure 6), and the driven gear is rotatably affixed to the pulley assembly (figure 7, see below), and wherein the pulley assembly is coupled between the inner mast section and the outer mast section so that rotation of the pulley assembly is configured to move the outer mast section relative to the inner mast section (figure 7, 8 and 10).
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Richardson does not disclose a lift assist motor rotatably coupled to the drive gear and configured to selectively apply an assisting torque, or that the platform and guardrail assembly are pivotally coupled to the outer mast section.
However, Brickell teaches
a lift assist motor (20, figure 4) rotatably coupled to the drive gear (of 21) and configured to selectively apply an assisting torque on the drive gear that reduces a torque required to rotate the handle (in this case the equivalent to the manual crank is the climber manually climbing the ladder pulling the rope 4 as they climb) and raise the outer mast section, the platform assembly, and the guardrail assembly relative to the base via the pulley assembly (or in this case assist in the raising of climber 3 relative the ladder 2; system sensing climber ascending and provides lifting assistance; figure 1; col. 9, line 54-56).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide the lift device of Richardson with a lift assist motor, like that taught by Brickell, so as to further assist the user as they manually crank/raise the outer mast section relative to the inner mast section, creating a smoother lifting and lowering process. While Richardson does include gas struts for assistance, the lift device may at times require additional lifting assistance for heavier loads and/or in the event the glass struts are not operating at full assistance.
Additionally, Soeda teaches:
a platform assembly (50,53 figures 1 & 4, see below) pivotally coupled to the outer mast section (figure 4-5); and
a guardrail assembly (54, 55, see below) pivotally coupled to the outer mast section (figure 4-5, see below).
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Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to construct the platform and guardrail assemblies of Richardson to be pivotally coupled to the outer mast section as taught by Soeda, so as to provide a more versatile lift device easily convertible to a compact configuration, allowing for easier storage and transportation from one work site to the next.
The combination of Richardson modified with the assist motor of Brickell, as advanced above would results in:
10. The lift device of claim 9, wherein the crank assembly (Richardson, figure 6) further comprises an outer gear (Richardson, 48), and the lift assist motor (Soeda) is rotatably coupled to the outer gear (combination advanced above).
11. The lift device of claim 10, wherein the outer gear (Richardson, 48) is rotatably fixed to the drive gear (Richardson figure 6).
12. The lift device of claim 11, wherein the handle (26, 44, Richardson) is rigidly coupled between the outer gear (48) and the drive gear (40) so that the outer gear is rotatably fixed to the drive gear (Richardson, figure 6; 44 being part of the crank/handle assembly).
13. The lift device of claim 9, further comprising a torque sensor and a controller in communication with the lift assist motor and the torque sensor (Soeda, col. 9, lines 48-56).
14. The lift device of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to detect, via the torque sensor, that the outer mast section (climber) is being raised and, in response, instruct the lift assist motor to generate the assisting torque (Soeda, col. 9, lines 48-56).
15. The lift device of claim 9, further comprising a support plate (Richardson, figure 6) coupled to the outer mast section, wherein the lift assist motor is mounted within the support plate (when in combination with Soeda the motor would be mounted adjacent the gears).
16. A lift device (10, figure 1, see below), comprising:
a base (12, figure 1, see below);
a mast assembly (16, figure 1, see below) including an inner mast section (20, figure 4) coupled to the base (figure 1) and an outer mast section (22, figure 4);
a platform assembly (18, figure 1, see below) coupled to the outer mast section (figure 1);
a guardrail assembly (unnumbered guardrail assembly of platform 18, figure 1) coupled to the outer mast section (figure 1, see below); and a
a crank assembly (figure 6, see below) including a handle (26, 44, figure 6) and a pulley assembly (figure 7, see below), wherein the pulley assembly is coupled between the inner mast section and the outer mast section, and wherein the handle is rotatably coupled to the pulley assembly (figure 7) so that rotation of the handle in a first direction is configured to raise the outer mast section, the platform and guardrail assembly relative to base (figure 7, 8 and 10).
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Richardson does not disclose a lift assist motor, a torque sensor or controller, or that the platform and guardrail assembly are pivotally coupled to the outer mast section.
However, Brickell teaches
and a lift assist motor (20, figure 4);
a torque sensor (col. 9, line 54-62); and
a controller in communication with the lift assist motor and the torque sensor (figures 3a, 3b), the controller being configured to:
detect, via the torque sensor, that the handle is being rotated in the first direction (in this case the rope 4 is being pulled upward by the climber signaling a desire to move in the first direction) and, in response, instruct the lift assist motor to generate an assisting torque that reduces a torque required to rotate the handle and raise the outer mast section, the platform assembly, and the guardrail assembly relative to the base via the pulley assembly (or in this case assist in the raising of climber 3 relative the ladder 2; system sensing climber ascending and provides lifting assistance; figure 1; col. 9, line 54-62).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide the lift device of Richardson with a lift assist motor, like that taught by Brickell, so as to further assist the user as they manually crank/raise the outer mast section relative to the inner mast section, creating a smoother lifting and lowering process. While Richardson does include gas struts for assistance, the lift device may at times require additional lifting assistance for heavier loads and/or in the event the glass struts are not operating at full assistance.
Additionally, Soeda teaches:
a platform assembly (50,53, figures 1 & 4, see below) pivotally coupled to the outer mast section (figure 4-5); and
a guardrail assembly (54, 55, see below) pivotally coupled to the outer mast section (figure 4-5, see below).
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Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to construct the platform and guardrail assemblies of Richardson to be pivotally coupled to the outer mast section as taught by Soeda, so as to provide a more versatile lift device easily convertible to a compact configuration, allowing for easier storage and transportation from one work site to the next.
The combination of Richardson modified with the assist motor of Brickell, as advanced above would results in:
17. The lift device of claim 16, wherein the crank assembly (Richardson, figure 6) further comprises a drive gear (Richardson 40) and an outer gear (Richardson 48), and the lift assist motor (Soeda) is rotatably coupled to the outer gear (combination advanced above).
18. The lift device of claim 17, wherein the outer gear (Richardson, 48) is rotatably fixed to the drive gear (Richardson figure 6).
19. The lift device of claim 18, wherein the handle (26,44, Richardson) is rigidly coupled between the outer gear (48) and the drive gear (40) so that the outer gear is rotatably fixed to the drive gear (Richardson, figure 6; 44 being part of the handle assembly).
20. The lift device of claim 16, further comprising a support plate (Richardson, figure 6) coupled to the outer mast section, wherein the lift assist motor is mounted within the support plate (when in combination with Soeda the motor would be mounted adjacent the gears).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to COLLEEN M CHAVCHAVADZE whose telephone number is (571)272-6289. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:00AM-4:00PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Daniel Cahn can be reached at 571-270-5616. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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COLLEEN M. CHAVCHAVADZE
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3634
/COLLEEN M CHAVCHAVADZE/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3634
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