DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
An amendment after a Non-Final Rejection was filed by applicant on 04/07/2026.
Claims 1-8, 12-14 and 20 are canceled.
Claims 9, 15, 17 and 19 are amended.
Claims 9-11 and 15-19 are remaining in the application.
New Matter
The amendment filed on 04/07/2026 is objected to under 35 U.S.C. 132(a) because it introduces new matter into the disclosure. 35 U.S.C. 132(a) states that no amendment shall introduce new matter into the disclosure of the invention. The added material which is not supported by the original disclosure is as follows: Newly added illustrations to Fig. 2 depicting newly shown position/location(s) and/or spatial relationships for the added winch 16 and lock 17 where not previously shown for such features in such manner in the Drawings as originally filed. Similar applies to the newly added description for such features in the amended Specification.
Applicant is required to cancel the new matter in the reply to this Office Action.
The objection to the drawings for not showing all features recited in the claims was not a requirement for applicant to add such features where not previously shown in the Drawings; such an objection required applicant to either show all features recited in the claims or cancel such features from the claims, as appropriate.
The following additional guidance is provided for applicant’s consideration regarding information required to be shown the Drawings:
MPEP 608.02(d) Complete Illustration in Drawings [R-07.2015]
37 C.F.R. 1.83 Content of drawing.
(a) The drawing in a nonprovisional application must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. However, conventional features disclosed in the description and claims, where their detailed illustration is not essential for a proper understanding of the invention, should be illustrated in the drawing in the form of a graphical drawing symbol or a labeled representation (e.g., a labeled rectangular box). In addition, tables that are included in the specification and sequences that are included in sequence listings should not be duplicated in the drawings.
If applicant chooses to represent or otherwise illustrate conventional features in the Drawings, applicant must clearly specify in the disclosure (Specification) that such features are conventional or otherwise known in the prior art.
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, the claimed feature: “anchor points” (as recited in claim 11) must be shown (it suggested that such be shown with an appropriate reference character corresponding to this feature in the specification) or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). The additional features recited in the claims and objected to for not being shown in the Drawings in the Non-Final Rejection are still required to be shown in the Drawings, unless removed from the claims; if applicant retains such features in the claims even if canceled from the new matter indicated above; then the previous objection of the Drawings would remain.
Appropriate correction is required.
The Drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a) because they fail to show the above features consistent with the specification. Any structural detail that is essential for a proper understanding of the disclosed invention should be shown in the drawing. MPEP § 608.02(d).
It is unclear how the added winch 16 is connected to structure in Fig. 2. It is also unclear how the added lock 17 is both connected to and locks the rollers for proper function in Fig. 2.
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. No new matter should be entered.
In addition to Replacement Sheets containing the corrected drawing figure(s), applicant is required to submit a marked-up copy of each Replacement Sheet including annotations indicating the changes made to the previous version. The marked-up copy must be clearly labeled as “Annotated Sheets” and must be presented in the amendment or remarks section that explains the change(s) to the drawings. See 37 CFR 1.121(d)(1). Failure to timely submit the proposed drawing and marked-up copy will result in the abandonment of the application.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
The Specification does not refer to the Drawings regarding all features indicated in paragraphs 7 and 8 of this Office Action; (i.e., the feature ‘anchor points’).
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Objections
Claim 9 is objected to because of the following informalities:
The recitation “the flat lower surface” should be replaced with – the substantially flat lower surface – as first recited in the claim. Similarly, “the well deck” should be replaced with – the floodable well deck – as first recited in the claims.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
Claims 9-11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following claimed feature lack sufficient antecedent basis:
“the flat lower surface” (as newly recited in claim 9 and subsequent dependent claims).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 9 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) set forth in this Office action.
Claims 10 and 11 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Claims 15-19 are allowed.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to the claim(s) have been fully considered but are essentially moot due to applicant’s amended claims and the resulting new and/or modified grounds of rejection presented in this Final Office Action.
Conclusion
21. 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.
22. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DANIEL V VENNE whose telephone number is (571) 272-7947. The examiner can normally be reached between M-F, 7am-3:30pm Flex. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Marc Q Jimenez, who can be reached at phone number (571) 272-4530. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free).
23. If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/Daniel V Venne/
Senior Examiner, Art Unit 3615B
04/20/2026
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