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 .
This is the First Office Action on the merits of Application No. 18/522010, filed on 11/28/2023. Claims 1-20 are still pending in the application.
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) 1-5, 7-12, 14-19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by JPH 06-129131 to Morioka (henceforth referred to as Morioka).
Regarding claims 1-5, 7, Morioka discloses a lift apparatus (i.e. Fig. 1), comprising:
a platform (i.e. Fig. 1, F2) comprising a support frame (i.e. Fig. 1, ref. 10) at least partially supporting a walkway (i.e. Fig. 1, floor of ref. F2);
a lift table (i.e. Fig. 1, ref. 20);
a motor (i.e. Fig. 5, ref. M2) configured to lift and lower the lift table;
a travel block (i.e. Fig. 6, ref. 22d) coupled to the lift table, wherein the travel block lifts and lowers with the lift table;
a first linkage (i.e. See mark up of Fig. 6) coupled to the travel block, wherein lifting of the travel block moves the first linkage in a first direction, and lowering of the travel block moves the first linkage in a second direction that is opposite of the first direction (i.e. Machine Translation paragraph 0030: “a pair of ropes 22e, 22e, and the pallet 20 is connected.. via connecting pins 22d… when the pallet 20 descends in direction of arrow K1… the shutter plate 12… moves in the direction of arrow K2… conversely, when the pallet 20 rises, the shutter plate… falls”);
a moveable gate (i.e. Fig. 6, ref. 12 on the left); and
a second linkage (i.e. See Mark up of Fig. 6) coupled to the movable gate, wherein movement of the second linkage in the first direction lowers the movable gate, and movement of the second linkage in the second direction lifts the moveable gate at least partially above the walkway (i.e. Machine Translation paragraph 0030: “a pair of ropes 22e, 22e, and the pallet 20 is connected.. via connecting pins 22d… when the pallet 20 descends in direction of arrow K1… the shutter plate 12… moves in the direction of arrow K2… conversely, when the pallet 20 rises, the shutter plate… falls”).
Further comprising (See markup of Fig. 6):
a first actuator;
a second actuator mounted to the support frame and spaced from the first actuator.
Further comprising: a third actuator mounted to the support frame and spaced from the first actuator.
Wherein: the first actuator comprises a first shaft (i.e. Fig. 6, not shown but shaft of lower pullies of first actuator ref. R5 similar to shaft shown in Fig. 3, ref. 23) mounted to a lower section of the support frame;
the second actuator comprises a second shaft (i.e. Fig. 6, not shown but shaft of pulley, ref. R5) mounted to an upper section of the support frame; and
the third actuator comprises a third shaft (i.e. Fig. 6, not shown but shaft of pulley, ref. R5) mounted to the upper section of the support frame.
Wherein the first linkage includes a first roller chain (i.e. Machine Translation paragraph 0016: “via cables (a general term for… chains, etc…”) wound at least partially about the first and third actuators, and the second linkage includes a second roller chain wound at least partially about the first and second actuators (i.e. See mark up of Fig. 6).
Wherein movement of the first linkage in the first direction transfers through the first actuator (i.e. shaft between pullies of lower ref R5 similar to shaft shown in Fig. 3, ref. 23) to move the second linkage in the first direction.
PNG
media_image1.png
600
500
media_image1.png
Greyscale
Regarding claims 8-12, 14-15, Morioka comprises a gate apparatus (i.e. Fig. 1), comprising:
a travel block (i.e. Fig. 6, ref. 22d);
a first linkage (i.e. See Mark up of Fig. 6) coupled to the travel block;
movable gate (i.e. Fig. 6, ref. 12 on the left);
a second linkage (i.e. See Mark up of Fig. 6) coupled to the movable gate; and
one or more actuators (i.e. See Markup of Fig. 6) disposed between the first linkage and the second linkage to transfer movement between the first linkage and the second linkage.
Wherein the movable gate comprises a frame and one or more panels coupled to the frame (i.e. Machine Translation paragraph 0031: “shutter plates 12, 12, or alternatively, an armor type shutter made by connecting narrow plates in a bendable manner, a metal net, a bar fence, etc. may be used as appropriate”).
Wherein the one or more actuators comprise:
a set of first wheels (i.e. Mark up of Fig. 6, mark up labeled “first actuators” and Machine Translation paragraph 0030: “a pair of pulleys R5, R5”) coupled to a first shaft (i.e. implied with pullies but not shown); and
a set of second wheels (i.e. Mark up of Fig. 6, mark up labeled “second actuators” and Machine Translation paragraph 0030: “a pair of pulleys R5, R5”) coupled respectively to a second shaft and a third shaft (i.e. implied with pullies but now shown”).
Wherein the first linkage comprises a first chain and the second linkage comprises a second chain (i.e. Machine Translation paragraph 0016: “via cables (a general term for… chains, etc…”)
Wherein the first wheels comprise first teeth configured to interface with the first chain, and the second wheels comprise second teeth configured to interface with the second chain (i.e. Machine Translation paragraph 0018: “pallet 20… and a drive motor M2 are installed… Sprockets… are fixed to both ends of each drive shaft.. and guide sprockets… are disposed on the sides thereof” wherein sprockets have some form of “teeth”).
Wherein the first linkage comprises:
a first section (i.e. See Mark up of Fig. 6) on a first side of the one or more actuators; and
a second section (i.e. See Mark up of Fig. 6) on a second side of the one or more actuators: and
the second linkage comprises:
a first section (i.e. See Mark up of Fig. 6) on the first side of the one or more actuators, and
a second section (i.e. See Mark up of Fig. 6) on the second side of the one or more actuators.
Wherein the travel block is coupled to the first section of the first linkage that is on the first side of the one or more actuators; and
the movable gate is coupled to the second section of the second linkage that is on the second side of the one or more actuators.
Regarding claims 16-19, Morioka comprises a gate apparatus (i.e. Fig. 1), comprising:
a travel block (i.e. Fig. 6, ref. 22d);
a first roller chain (i.e. Mark up of Fig. 6, ref. 22e of the “first linkage” and Machine Translation paragraph 0016: “via cables (a general term for… chains, etc…”) coupled to the travel block;
a movable gate (i.e. Fig. 6, ref. 12 on the left) and
a second roller chain (i.e. Mark up of Fig. 6, ref. 22e marked as the “second linkage” and Machine Translation paragraph 0016: “via cables (a general term for… chains, etc…”) coupled to the movable gate.
Further comprising: a set of first wheels (i.e. Mark up of Fig. 6, mark up labeled “first actuators” and Machine Translation paragraph 0030: “a pair of pulleys R5, R5”); and
a set of second wheels (i.e. Mark up of Fig. 6, mark up labeled “second actuator”) and Machine Translation paragraph 0030: “a pair of pulleys R5, R5”).
Wherein the first roller chain is wound at least partially about one of the first wheels and one of the second wheels; and
the second roller is wound at least partially about another of the first wheels and another of the second wheels (i.e. Mark up of Fig. 6, mark up labeled third actuator).
Further comprising:
a first shaft coupled to the first wheels, wherein the first wheels rotate with rotation of the first shaft;
a second shaft coupled to the another of the second wheels, wherein the another of the second wheels rotates with the rotation of the second shaft (i.e. shafts not shown in Fig. 6 but shafts similar to those shown in Fig. 3, ref. 23 are used between corresponding pullies).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 6, 13 and 20 are 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
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
US Patent Application Publication No. 2024/0151057 to Huang et al teaches a stereo garage with a lift and movable blockage;
DE 20 2022 101675 to Lorenz and Kolegen teaches a device to adjust height of work station and door.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DIEM M TRAN whose telephone number is (571)270-7825. The examiner can normally be reached M 9-5, W-F 10-2.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Michael Mansen can be reached at 571-272-6608. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/DIEM M TRAN/Examiner, Art Unit 3654