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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(4) because reference character “42” has been used to designate both “braces” and “lubrication and heat exchange equipment”.
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they do not include the following reference sign(s) mentioned in the description: 18, 20, 22, 54 and 56.
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they include the following reference character(s) not mentioned in the description: 22.1 and 48.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d), or amendment to the specification to add the reference character(s) in the description in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(b) 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. 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 § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 21-32 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. Applicant claims “a plurality of supports, each support being configured to: removably connect to the first transportable platform after the first transportable platform is transported to first operating location” in claim 21. The specification discloses the supports (22 or 22.1 in the figures) are attached to the platform (10) via fasteners (23) such as bolts. However, given the size of the platform (based on the drawings around 4 stories tall) and thus the given weight there is insufficient written description to how the supports are detachable from the platform. For example U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2024/0198385 discloses supports (112) that are deployed either in an extended position or a retracted position (via hydraulics or manually folding them ¶60) and when the supports are to be retracted there are wheels (119) for the platform to rest on. Same with U.S. Patent No. 6,935,587 with supports (70) and wheels (72). U.S. Patent No. 12,343,731 discloses a screening platform of the device supported on supports (403). However, this platform can be cantilevered (see figure 1) to remove the supports. Applicant however does not disclose any way to detach the supports without damaging the platform. As such, the supports being detachable is not responsibly conveyed to a person of ordinary skill in the art that the inventor had possession of the claimed invention.
Conclusion
It is noted that the prior art does not disclose the plant as claimed, specifically the two screening conveyors being disposed below an outlet portion of the second container (which receives the crushed material) and conveys the material in different directions to respective classifiers in addition to the detachable supports.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Matthew Katcoff whose telephone number is (571)270-1415. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th: 8-4, Fri: Flex.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Christopher Templeton can be reached at (571) 270-1477. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Matthew Katcoff/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3725
01/30/2026