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 under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore,
In claim 9, line 2, “an external controller” and claim 13, line 7, “a controller”, should be identified with reference characters.
In claim 18, “robotic driving unit includes a motor”, should be identified with reference characters.
must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
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 § 102
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 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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-2, 5, 7, 9-13, and 16-19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Makinen (EP3330212A1).
Regarding claims 1 and 13, Makinen discloses a knuckle boom crane (10; Figures 1-3) comprising: a base (220) with a top surface and a bottom surface; a slew column (120) rotatably coupled to the base (220); a telescoping boom (122) pivotably coupled to the slew column (120); a plurality of outriggers (16) coupled to the top surface of the base (220); and a robotic driving unit (22) rotatably coupled to the bottom surface of the base (220), the robotic driving unit (22) connected to a controller (18) configured to control operation of the robotic driving unit (22) to drive the knuckle boom crane (10; ¶0008-0012 and ¶0042-0046, control system configured to control the functions of the crane, includes the crawler 222).
Regarding claim 2, Makinen discloses wherein the plurality of outriggers (16) supports a weight of the knuckle boom crane (10) when the plurality of outriggers (16) is in the supporting position.
Regarding claims 5 and 16-18, Makinen discloses wherein the robotic driving unit (22) supports a weight of the knuckle boom crane (10) when the plurality of outriggers (16) is in the stored position; further comprising a plurality of wheels (222, 224; Figure 1) coupled to the bottom surface of the base (220), wherein the robotic driving unit (22) and the plurality of wheels (222, 224) support the weight of the knuckle boom crane (10); wherein the robotic driving unit (22) includes a motor (¶0031, motorized crawler tracks) and a plurality of wheels (222, 224) operationally coupled to the motor.
Regarding claim 7, Makinen discloses wherein the knuckle boom crane (10) is operably connected to a power pack (¶0047, crane electric motor 210 can be connected to an external electric power source separate from the crane 10) that is spaced apart from the knuckle boom crane (10).
Regarding claim 9, Makinen discloses wherein the robotic driving unit is electronically connected to an external controller (186; Figure 2; ¶0003 and 0058, remote control device).
Regarding claim 10, Makinen discloses wherein the plurality of outriggers (16) is angled in an upright direction when the plurality of outriggers (16) is in the stored position (Figure 3).
Regarding claim 11, Makinen discloses an intermediate boom (124; Figure 1) pivotably coupled to the slew column (120) wherein the telescoping boom (122) is pivotably coupled to the intermediate boom (124).
Regarding claim 12, Makinen discloses a slewing platform (14; Figure 1) fixedly coupled to the top surface of the base (220) wherein the slew column (120) is rotatably coupled to the slewing platform (14).
Regarding claim 19, Makinen discloses a counterweight (24; Figure 1) coupled to the slew column (120) and configured to rotate with the slew column (120).
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) 3-4 and 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Makinen in view of Peters (US20200369494A1).
Regarding claims 3-4 and 20, Makinen discloses the above knuckle boom crane, but fails to teach a plurality of base lifts coupled to the bottom surface and adjustable between a retracted position and an extended position; wherein the plurality of base lifts supports a weight of the knuckle boom crane when the plurality of base lifts is in the extended position.
Peters teaches a similar boom crane and further teaches a plurality of base lifts (105; Figures 3-4) coupled to the bottom surface (lever jack 105 extends from the bottom surface of base 101 by a screw coupling attached to the bottom surface of the base) and adjustable between a retracted position and an extended position; wherein the plurality of base lifts (105) supports a weight of the boom crane (100; knuckle boom crane 10 of Makinen) when the plurality of base lifts (105) is in the extended position (Figure 3). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the filing date of the claimed invention to modify the knuckle boom crane of Makinen to include the base lifts as taught by Peters in order to level out and balance the crane in uneven terrain or surfaces.
Claim(s) 6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Makinen in view of Faloney (20210354960A1).
Regarding claim 6, Makinen discloses the above knuckle boom crane, but fails to teach wherein the knuckle boom crane has a width no greater than ten feet.
Faloney teaches a similar knuckle boom crane and further teaches wherein the knuckle boom crane (10; Figure 1) has a width no greater than ten feet (¶0030, dimension of crane less than 7ft wide). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the filing date of the claimed invention to modify the knuckle boom crane of Makinen to include the crane width as taught by Faloney in order to enable the crane to safely maneuver in tight places without damaging surrounding obstacles and the crane and further sized to adhere to shipping dimension regulations or requirements.
Claim(s) 8 and 14-15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Makinen in view of Elliott (US10697146B2).
Regarding claims 8 and 14-15, Makinen discloses the above knuckle boom crane and further teaches wherein the knuckle boom crane (10) is operably connected to a power pack (¶0047, crane electric motor 210 can be connected to an external electric power source separate from the crane 10) spaced apart from the knuckle boom crane (10), but fails to teach wherein the controller is positioned on the power pack; wherein the power pack includes a hydraulic unit configured to pivot the plurality of outriggers between the stored position and the supporting position; wherein the power pack includes a plurality of wheels configured to move the power pack along a surface with the knuckle boom crane.
Elliott teaches a similar boom crane and further teaches wherein the controller (130; Figures 1 and 3) is positioned on the power pack (100); wherein the power pack (100) includes a hydraulic unit (110) configured to pivot the plurality of outriggers (outriggers shown in Figure 1) between the stored position and the supporting position (column 3, line 3 – column 4, line 6, the auxiliary hydraulic supply system 100 may be placed into fluid communication with the hydraulic system of the crane to provide sufficient energy to original components of the crane, such as the outriggers, and additional accessories); wherein the power pack (100) includes a plurality of wheels (wheels shown in Figure 1) configured to move the power pack (100) along a surface with the boom crane (82; knuckle boom crane 10 of Makinen). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the filing date of the claimed invention to modify the knuckle boom crane of Makinen to include the power pack as taught by Elliott in order to allow the power supply to be positioned and allow the user to operate the crane from a safe distance and help provide additional power to ensure sufficient energy is supplied to all components of the crane.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Additional references listed on form PTO-892 are cited for their relevance to the disclosed invention and demonstration of the state of the art.
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/H.S./Examiner, Art Unit 3654
/ANNA M MOMPER/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3654