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 .
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) 1-16 and 18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by McSorely (US 7887471).
1. A system for gait training comprising: a frame comprising a first, second, third and fourth leg (Legs 30 as seen in FIG 1); a pivoting bar rotatably coupled to an upper portion of the frame and configured to rotate independent of the frame (bar 55a pivotally connected to 50 via plate 80 – see locking pin 25); and a plurality of flexible support members connected to the frame (40s – see numerous members 40 connected directly to 30s and indirectly to 55a), the plurality of flexible support members comprising at least one upright flexible support member connected to the pivoting bar (indirectly; when a 40 is positioned vertically by sliding 35 upward along a leg 30) and at least one lateral flexible support member connected to at least one of the first, second, third and fourth legs (another respective 40 when positioned horizontally).
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one upright flexible support member is one of a plurality of upright flexible support members connected to the pivoting bar (see several 40s capable of being configured as claimed during the course of normal use).
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one lateral flexible support member is a first lateral flexible support member connected to the first leg, and wherein a second lateral flexible support member is connected to the second leg, a third lateral flexible support member is connected to the third leg, and a fourth lateral flexible support member is connected to the fourth leg (see members 40 connected to each leg 30 in FIG 1).
4. The system of claim 3, wherein first, second, third and fourth lateral flexible support members are elastic (to provide biasing force to an exercising user).
5. The system of claim 3, wherein the first, second, third and fourth lateral flexible support members are bungee straps (elastic bias members/bungee straps 40).
6. The system of claim 3, wherein the first, second, third and fourth lateral flexible support members are connected to a user harness (user harness 45).
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first, second, third and fourth lateral flexible support members are configured to the user harness at waist level and configured to provide steering support (capable of being connected as claimed as seen in FIG 1, capable of helping the user exercise steering support muscles during the course of normal use).
8. The system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of upright flexible support members are connected to a user harness (as seen in FIG 1).
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of upright flexible support members are configured to provide omnidirectional support to a user (by position them as desired around the user as seen in FIG 1).
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one upright flexible support member is adjustable in at least one of length, direction or magnitude of force applied (direction adjustment via moving 35s).
11. The system of claim 1, wherein each leg comprises a caster mounted to a bottom portion (wherein a caster is defined as a pivoting support element; each 30 has pivoting support elements/casters 85 permitting rotation of the 30 relative to ring 90 as seen in FIG 1A).
12. The system of claim 1, wherein the frame is configured to permit adjustment of width between adjacent legs while in use (via adjustment of a respective 85).
13. The system of claim 1, wherein the frame is configured to bias towards an unadjusted state while in an adjusted state (when a user pulls against an element 30 by applying force to an element 35 via flexible member 40).
14. The system of claim 1, wherein the frame is configured to increasingly bias towards an unadjusted state when moving increasingly into an adjusted state (as a user pulls increasingly against an element 30, the respective 40 pulls against the user’s movement in an equal and opposite manner).
15. The system of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises an upper arch comprising the first and third leg, and a lower arch comprising the second and fourth leg (upper/left arches of left-side 30s and lower/right arches of right-side 30s).
16. The system of claim 15 wherein the upper arch and lower arch each comprise an opening that aligns for accepting insertion of a connection element that couples the upper arch and lower arch along a central axis (opening in each 30 for connecting to ring 90 as seen in FIG 1A, and thereby connecting each 30 to one another about a central axis of ring 90).
18. The system of claim 16, wherein the hinge further comprises a hinge lock (85).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 17, 19, and 20 objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GARRETT K ATKINSON whose telephone number is (571)272-8117. The examiner can normally be reached 0800-1800 M-F.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, LoAn Jimenez can be reached at (571) 272-4966. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/GARRETT K ATKINSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3784