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 .
The amendment filed on 19 April 2026 in response to the non-final office action mailed on 13 January 2026 has been considered. Claim(s) 1-20 is/are pending. Claim(s) 1-20 has/have been examined in this action.
Claim(s) 17-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US 2009/0218466 A1 to Wang et al.
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Regarding claim 17, Wang et al. disclose a foldable supporting device, comprising: a plurality of supporting structures (first, second, third supporting frame; see Figure above) comprising upper parts (See Figure above) and lower parts (See Figure above) disposed opposite to the upper parts; a foldable structure (See Figure above) which is connected to the lower parts of the supporting structures and is foldable from an extended position to a folded position (Fig. 4 and 5); a plurality of rotatable elements (See Figure above) which connect the supporting structures and the foldable structure (See Figure above); wherein when the foldable structure is folded, external forces from the lower parts of the supporting structures are transmitted to the upper parts of the supporting structures with the rotatable elements cooperating to rotate, thereby moving the supporting structures close to each other (Fig.4 and 5).
Regarding claim 18, further comprising movable elements (See Figure above) that are connected to the foldable structure and are movable along the lower parts of the supporting structures (See Figure above), wherein a distance between the supporting structures is determined by an extent of extending of the foldable structure and positions of the movable elements (See Figure above; Fig. 4 and 5).
Regarding claim 19, Wang et al. disclose a foldable supporting device, comprising: a plurality of supporting structures (first, second, third supporting frames; See Figure above) comprising upper parts (See Figure above) and lower parts (See Figure above) disposed opposite to the upper parts; a foldable structure (See Figure above) which is connected to the lower parts of the supporting structures and is foldable from an extended position to a folded position (Fig.4 and 5); a plurality of rotatable elements (See Figure above) which connect the supporting structures and the foldable structure; wherein during extension of the foldable supporting device, external forces from the upper parts of the supporting structures are transmitted to the foldable structure with the rotatable elements cooperating to rotate, thereby extending the foldable structure and moving the supporting structures apart from each other (Fig.4 and 5).
Regarding claim 20, further comprising movable elements (See Figure above) that are connected to the foldable structure and are movable along the lower parts of the supporting structures (Fig. 4 and 5), wherein a distance between the supporting structures is determined by an extent of extending of the foldable structure and positions of the movable elements (Fig.4 and 5).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-16 are allowed.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments regarding claims 17-20, filed 19 April 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Regarding claims 17 and 19, Applicant argues that the folding structure of Wang includes a complex linkage system and thus force transmission paths cannot be identified. This is not found to be persuasive. Wang discloses wherein the lower parts are connected to the upper parts through at least partially the rotatable elements, therefore when forced are applied to lower parts, the forces will be transmitted to the upper parts through the rotatable elements, whether it is a small portion of the force or a majority of the force, therefore the prior art folding structure is capable of functioning in the manner as claimed. So although Wang may not disclose the exact force paths and the exact amount of forces transmitted through each path, forces will in fact move through the connected elements.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
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RDK
/RYAN D KWIECINSKI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3635
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